THE CALL IS OUT FOR MORE FOSTER HOMES IN STEPHENS COUNTY

By Jessica Waters, WNEG Radio

In Stephens County, the call is out for more foster homes.

Currently, there are approximately 70 Stephens County children in foster care – but only 11 of those children are currently living in Stephens County.

Chris Sprowls, Director of the Stephens County office of the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services, or DFCS, said there is a need for new local foster homes so that fewer local children are placed in foster homes hours away from everything they are familiar with, and hours away from the support network in place to assist them.

He said experience has shown that, when children are placed outside the area where they lived before being placed into foster care, it makes reunification with parents more difficult, and it is more difficult for DFCS oversight and partnering support from attorneys, CASA and other organizations.

Rebecca Davidson heads the regional roster recruitment efforts, said retention of foster homes is higher when foster families feel supported, not only by DFCS, but by the community.

In addition to support from churches, community members in general can help foster families by offering simple gifts of time and effort, such as preparing a meal, helping with laundry, or providing childcare for a parent night out.

An informational Foster Parent Recruitment Meeting in Toccoa is scheduled for March 2, from 10 a.m. until noon, at Toccoa First Baptist Church, 475 E Tugalo Street Toccoa.

Refreshments and childcare will be provided.

Any churches who would like to appoint an advocate or group of advocates to be involved with a community support group for foster parents should contact Sherrie Jeffers at [email protected].