Foster parents provide hope for bright futures

Release date: 5/1/2010

Removed from their homes after suffering abuse, neglect and/or abandonment, more than 18,000 of Florida’s children will spend Mother’s Day without their mother. In foster care for their own safety and well-being, these children face uncertain futures, never quite knowing if – or when – they’ll be reunited with their parents.

While some foster children find stability and love with foster families only until their own parents appropriately resolve issues that threatened the child(ren)’s safety, others spend the majority of their adolescence in foster care, hoping to eventually reunite with their biological families or join a family through adoption.

Until then, their immediate needs for safety, stability and love are met by caring foster families who welcome youth into their homes and guide them on their journeys toward healing.

“The trauma many children experienced before coming into foster care is incomprehensible,” says David A. Bundy, President and CEO of Children’s Home Society of Florida. “It takes a special person to embrace these children with unconditional love, all the time knowing you may eventually have to say goodbye. Even so, the rewards of foster parenting are priceless – by welcoming children into your home, you can make a meaningful difference in their lives.”

While the nation celebrates Foster Parent Appreciation Month throughout May, Children’s Home Society of Florida honors foster families and celebrates the opportunities they provide for local children.

Raising community awareness of foster care issues and children in need of safe homes is crucial to recruit stable, positive, caring foster parents ready to open their hearts and homes to youth.

Children’s Home Society of Florida offers foster families training, access to a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, support of a Case Manager, assistance with paperwork and access to peer support.

Families interested in becoming foster parents can contact their local division of Children’s Home Society of Florida. Children’s Home Society of Florida also seeks support for local foster families through donations of items such as theme park tickets and clothing and services such as haircuts; volunteer mentors, child advocates and job opportunities for foster youth are also needed.

No clients shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Clients needing accommodations for a disability and/or clients with special communications needs should contact their Children’s Home Society of Florida worker or make their request for accommodation at the time of admission into a Children’s Home Society of Florida program.

CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, REGISTRATION #CH180, IS REGISTERED WITH THE STATE UNDER THE SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.