Foster families needed as demand grows in county
Stephen Woodward, foster parent recruitment and engagement specialist for Youth Villages, receives a proclamation from Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, center, and Commission Vice Chair Shelly Vandagriff. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Stephen Woodward, foster parent recruiting and engagement specialist for the organization, spoke of the need for foster parents in Anderson County, and how to become one through his organization during a May 29 meeting at the Anderson County Senior Center.
“We like to say it just takes one caring adult to change a child’s life, and you can be that caring adult,” he said.
He said more than 100 children from the county are in state custody. There are, however, only 45 open foster homes. Only 16% of the foster kids are staying in Anderson County.
His organization trains people to be foster parents for varying amounts of time and sets them up with children and teenagers.
Woodward said it was a misconception that all foster children misbehave.
“They are just some of the sweetest little kids,” he said. “Like your fingerprints, every child is different.”
A brochure handed out at the event stated that the goal of the program is for children to re-unite with their parents eventually. Children being with foster parents during periods of what the brochure called “excessive stress like financial hardship, mental or physical health problems, divorces, substance abuse, etc.,” helps the children and their foster parents.
“We obviously need to support them,” Woodward said of parents. “And we need to support our kiddos.
“No matter what, there’s going to be some trauma with these kiddos and that’s why they need stable, loving families,” he said regarding the role foster families can play.
In cases where parents can’t re-unite with children, the organization also offers adoption services.
There is no expectation for foster parents to adopt, although some go on to do so, Woodward said.
While he encouraged people to volunteer and help in other ways, in order to qualify as a foster parent with Youth Villages, applicants need to meet some requirements. They must live in Tennessee; be at least 25 years old; have a valid driver’s license, car insurance and reliable transportation; have verifyable monthly income that’s greater than expenses; be single, legally married for at least one year or cohabiting for at least three years; and be tolerant of differences in racial, ethnic, religious and educational backgrounds.
To learn more call 888-MY-YV-KID.
The Anderson County Commission passed a resolution allowing for this informational session at its meeting on May 19 along with passing a resolution declaring May as Foster Care Month.
