[dlhurst]

I am going to try to make this post short and to the point. I need some advice and know how valuable these forums can be.

I live in PA, Lancaster county, with my husband and 3 children. Our youngest is a little girl adoptive from Russia last spring. We have an older order mennonite lady as our babysitter. Her name is Elva.

Last year Elva bought her own home right in town. Her family do not drive, the have a horse and buggy. Elva usually bikes where she wants to go or gets a driver, which is often me.

She has been our babysitter/nanny for almost 6 years and is amazing with children. I watch her with my little girl and I get tears in my eyes. She is meant to take care of little ones.

She has long dreamed of being a foster parent. She knows there are so many children that need someone to love them and she wants to be that person. About 3 years ago she involved in a hit and run accident that nearly killed her. She has recovered and in another 2 years will begin receiving her insurance settlement of $2500/month, no taxes removed.

Here is my question, will she be able to become a foster mother? She is not married and doesn't plan to be, there are no men in her life, only the many children she cares for.

I don't know where to start to help her but there must be a way for her to care for a baby, she will be excellent. Please help me, any advice welcomed.

[DianeS]

If she is interested, all she has to do is telephone the Department of Family Services in her state/county. (It sometimes goes by a slightly different name - Department of Children's Services, Children and Family Services Department, something like that...)

They'll send her information, and tell her where and when their next orientation session is. Once she attends that, she'll have all of her questions answered as to the basic requirements for being a foster or adoptive parent through the state. They'll let her know minimum income standards (usually 125% of the poverty level or thereabouts), if there are restrictions on age or marriage status for particular types of children (they're usually minor - must be 18 and cannot foster for the first year after a new marriage, that sort of thing), and give her a list of things she'll have to provide, such as a doctor's statement, proof of income, etc.

It's certainly worth mentioning to her. Good luck to her!