Focusing on foster care in South Central Kentucky

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- At the end of December, more than 8,000 children were waiting to be placed in a foster home. We learned from Life Skills, at least 10 kids a week need placement, and it’s hard because there are not enough foster parents to foster these kids.

Diane Eidson, a CASA advocate and social worker shares how making a decision to foster a child not only provides a safe living space but allows a child to feel comfort and peace of mind. Diane says, “When they come into care, it’s usually fairly abruptly and they leave, you know, their things behind, and everybody sees the image of the child with a black garbage bag, and it’s true. “

While waiting, children within the foster care system face many obstacles when it comes to finding a home. Danielle Patten, a therapeutic foster assistant at Life Skills tells us about the decline in the amount of people looking to foster and how this impacts the children. Patten says, “These children didn’t necessarily get that at home. I mean, it depends on their situation and how they got brought into the system. It’s very challenging to not feel for these kids.”

Organizations like Life Skills offer support to foster care families and those interested in fostering with events like the upcoming Therapeutic Foster Care Informational Meeting to help children and adults navigate the new family relationship. The event will be March 7th at 6 p.m. at the Life Skills Corporate office at 380 Suwannee Trail Street Bowling Green, KY. For More details or if you have any questions visit https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=808856991258916&set=a.437988478345771.