Foster families are always needed

Currently, nearly half a million children in the United States are in foster care because their own families are in crisis and unable to provide for their essential well-being. Reports of abuse and neglect have already increased in some areas of the country due to the difficult economic times and are expected to rise as the economy worsens. In addition, there are an estimated 12 million alumni of foster care in the U.S. representing all walks of life.
In South Carolina, more than 5,500 children need loving foster homes. Sadly, there are only 3,000 homes available. Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, a nonprofit agency, recruits and trains foster parents to provide homes for children. The Governor’s Task Force on Foster Care and Adoption has set a goal of at least one home available for every child in care. S.C. currently needs foster parents in every county and currently LFS has foster homes in 34 of the 46 counties with a plan to expand to all counties beginning in early 2010.
No matter their age, all youth in foster care need a meaningful connection to a caring adult who becomes a supportive and lasting presence in their lives. Without families or stable relationships, too many of these formerly neglected and/or abused children and teens will end up facing life’s challenges all alone. Foster parents often state that they receive more from the experience than they actually give. Many people often find fostering a child or children will result in that special bond that leads to the adoption of the child. About 60 percent of the state’s adoptions result from foster families adopting their foster children. Fostering can provide children a connection to a loving family long after they become independent.
Child welfare issues arise in families of every race, ethnicity, culture, and age group. Even though research shows that there is no difference in the incidence of abuse and neglect according to racial group, children of color comprise a disproportionate percentage of youth in foster care. There is no such thing as a perfect family or perfect parent, but just being a loving and caring family can mean the difference of creating success for a foster child.
Research shows that young people who age out of foster care are far more likely than their peers in the general population to endure homelessness, poverty, compromised health, unemployment, incarceration and other adversities. The connection back to a family or positive adult is so important in the life of these children as they need a forever family to call their own. Someone to call for advice, to share special life stories or spend quality time and holiday occasions with in the presence of a family is truly a blessing that so many take for granted.
Older youth are in most urgent need of attention. Nearly half of the young people in foster care are older than 10. Each year, 26,000 young people in the United States age out of foster care, most without the appropriate resources, family connections, skills or options they will need to live healthy adult lives. Older children have many of the same need for belonging as the younger children and often have many less issues of the younger child. One older youth states that his foster family helped him put his life together. He states, “that I really appreciate my foster mom and dad for all their hard work and commitment to helping make me a better person. They taught me the importance of education and helped me move from failing in school to now excelling with the potential of attending college on scholarship. When I look back six years ago, I look back and realize how much better off I am now than I was before. My biological family could not make ends meet and were not able to care for me. But now I am in a new home and it is the best place for me. It has really changed my life completely.”
If nothing changes in the United States between now and the year 2020: Nearly 11 million children confirmed cases of abuse and neglect will be reported; 18,000 children will die of abuse or neglect; 7.2 million children will experience the foster care system; 240,000 youth will age out of foster care with inadequate support, resources, family connections, skills or options to compete in the work force and build successful lives.
Children and youth in foster care are capable of overcoming the repercussions of previous neglect and/or abuse. Those aging out of the system can become successful, productive adults when provided with educational opportunities, career training and emotional support. With supports, most families can address the challenges, which caused their children to be placed in foster care so that they can be safely reunited with parents or relatives. In hard economic times, especially government funding cutbacks, we are in need of Foster Care families more than ever. It is to time for our community to make a difference to help our children in need! Please consider becoming a foster parent by opening your heart and home to a waiting child. Please call us and let’s discuss just how important you will be in the life of a child.