I Thought It Would Feel Different
After months of paperwork, training, appointments, references, inspections, and enough waiting to make you question your sanity… you finally hear the words:
“You’re officially active.”
And honestly? I thought that moment would feel completely different.
I imagined confetti. Excitement. Instant placement calls. Some huge emotional moment where everything suddenly felt real.
Instead, it felt more like: “Wait… now we just sit here and stare at our phones?” 😅
What Does “Active” Mean in Foster Care?
Being “active” means your foster home is officially open for placements.
In simple terms: your information is now available for placement workers to contact if a child needs a home that matches your preferences and availability.
For us, that meant:
•being open to younger children
•emergency placements
•respite care
•long-term placements
•and preparing for the possibility of getting a call at literally any time
That last part alone can make your brain go into overdrive.
The Weird Part Nobody Talks About
I think one of the strangest parts of becoming active is that life suddenly feels… oddly normal again.
After constantly working toward licensing, there’s no more checklist to focus on.
No classes. No paperwork. No appointments. No inspections.
Now there’s just waiting.
And somehow the waiting can feel harder than the process itself.
Every Phone Notification Feels Important 😅
I’m pretty sure my phone has never stressed me out more.
Every unknown number suddenly makes you wonder: “Is this the call?”
You start checking your phone constantly. Keeping the ringer on louder. Thinking too much anytime the agency messages you.
Meanwhile, life still continues around you while your brain is sitting in this weird space between preparation and uncertainty.
Becoming Active Doesn’t Mean Immediate Placement
This was something I had to learn pretty quickly.
Getting approved does not automatically mean you’ll get a placement right away.
Some families get calls quickly. Some wait weeks. Some wait months.
A lot depends on:
•your age range
•number of openings
•location
•current placement needs
•and simply timing
That uncertainty can be emotionally exhausting sometimes, especially when you’ve spent so much time preparing your home and heart.
We Prepared… and Now We Wait
One of the hardest parts is feeling ready but having no control over the timeline.
You prepare bedrooms. Buy supplies. Wash tiny clothes. Organize everything. Mentally prepare yourself for children to walk through your door someday.
And then suddenly… it’s quiet.
Nobody really prepares you for that emotional shift.
My Advice for New Foster Parents Entering the Waiting Stage
If you’ve recently become active, try not to panic if the phone doesn’t ring immediately.
It does not mean you failed. It does not mean they forgot about you. And it definitely does not mean your home isn’t needed.
The foster care system moves differently than most people expect.
For now, I’m trying to remind myself that being active means we’re ready whenever that moment finally comes.
Even if the waiting part is harder than I expected 😅
Until next time, have a blessed day.