The Real Job of a Foster Parent | Tiffany Rivera

Ep. 10 pulls back the curtain on the real work of foster care—reunification, healing, and breaking generational cycles. Foster parents Tiffany and Louis Rivera share what it really feels like to love children as your own… and still help them return home. From building relationships with birth parents to managing the emotional toll of goodbye, the Riveras offer a perspective most people don’t talk about—but every foster parent needs to hear. 💔 What do you do when a child you love calls for you as you drive away? 💬 How do you support parents you may not always agree with? 🏡 And how do you remind yourself… they were never yours to keep? ✨ Key Takeaways: Reunification with birth parents is the goal How to support both the child and the parent The emotional reality of letting go—and why it matters Creating stability so children feel safe in both homes 🔗 Learn more about fostering and support services at 🌐Families Thrive  FamiliesThriveinc.org 📞 Contact Families Thrive: 585-232-5110 Chapters: 00:00:00 Why Letting Go Is the Hardest Part of Foster Care 00:01:00 The Real Goal: Reunification, Not Adoption 00:02:00 Building Trust with Birth Parents from Day One 00:04:00 Staying Connected Even After Children Go Home 00:05:00 Supporting Families Through Different Parenting Styles 00:06:30 Why Kids Need Two Families to Love Them 00:08:00 The Emotional Reality of Saying Goodbye 00:10:30 When Kids Don’t Understand Why They’re Leaving 00:12:30 Creating a Safe Space for Kids to Want Their Parents 00:14:30 Most Kids Want to Go Back Home 00:16:30 When You Lose Contact After Reunification 00:18:00 Preparing Kids for Transition (When You Can) 00:20:00 Helping Your Own Children Process Foster Care 00:22:00 Balancing a Household with Foster & Biological Kids 00:24:00 Setting Boundaries with Difficult Birth Parents 00:26:30 Foster Care Requires an Open Heart 00:28:00 Why More Foster Parents Are Needed 00:30:00 Finding Joy in the Smallest Moments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices