Douglas County currently has more than 300 children in foster care, but there are only 21 available foster homes. Without local foster homes, our children are placed outside of the county and their community, which has an impact on their emotional and educational needs.
DFCS is looking to increase our foster home total to 100 homes to keep our children within their own community.
WHAT IS FOSTER PARENTING?
Foster parents are volunteers who provide for the care of children placed in the custody of DFCS. Foster parents work as a part of a team to assure that a child’s physical, emotional, medical and psychological needs are met while they are in foster care. Although, it is not the goal to replace the child’s parents, foster parents are asked to assume the responsibility of parenting the children placed in their home.
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Are you ready to make a difference in the life of a child in your home community?
In Douglas County foster parents are needed to love, coach, mentor, wipe tears, celebrate, support and encourage children and youth who must live out of their home due to abuse and neglect. Could you, your family or friends make a difference in the life of a child? Maybe you could even deal with some teenage drama! Are you ready to learn more about becoming a foster family?
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Each County DFCS hosts information sessions for prospective families on a regular basis. After calling the inquiry line, prospective foster and adopt parents will be invited to an information session close to their county of residence.
WHO ARE THE CHILDREN?
Most of the children in foster care have endured some form of abuse or neglect and because of that some may have medical, emotional and/or behavioral needs. Children in foster care come from all racial and ethnic groups, most are school aged, and have brothers or sisters they need to be placed with. There are also a high number of teenagers.
Most of the children needing adoptive homes are members of sibling groups needing to be placed together, are older, have a diagnosed physical, mental or emotional disability or are African American.
For information on how to become a foster and adoptive or adoptive parent, call 1-877-210-KIDS. Douglas County DFCS hosts Information Sessions for prospective families.