All are welcome. Churches, organizations, corporations, and individuals, are being asked to participate in Foster Care Sunday, May 17, 2020. This innovative event will emphasize the need for more foster parents throughout Pennsylvania, utilizing technology and social media instead of normal recruitment channels.
Foster Care Sunday is sponsored by The Children’s Home of Reading’s foster and adoption program in honor of May being Foster Care Month. Jill Troutman, Vice President of Advancement, Marketing and Communication said, “There is an urgent need for more foster parents, who provide a temporary, loving home for these children until they can reunite with their parents, be placed with guardians, or be adopted, and we are embracing technology since our recruitment events were cancelled.”
“Anyone may participate in this outreach event; by just spreading the word about the need for foster families, simply sharing with their friends, families, and coworkers on Facebook or Instagram. We invite churches and organizations, even corporations if they are meeting on-line to make it an agenda item, place a notice in their e-news or in their signature line, bulletin, make an announcement during church service or invite us to be a speaker. We have a variety of resources on our website already regarding foster care, including a whole question and answer video section linked to our YouTube channel, and we will be posting information on fostering on Facebook that Sunday, so it will be even easier to share.” said Troutman.
When asked about who can become a foster parent, Troutman answered, “Basic criteria is that you have to be over 21 years of age, be able to pay your bills, pass mandatory background checks and training, all are welcome, we don’t care if you are single, a committed couple, a senior citizen or LGBT, we have all types of kids who are looking to be loved, cared for, and who are looking for some stability; there isn’t a better time to ask questions about fostering a child and to decide if it’s right for your family.”
“The need for foster families is great, with upwards of 500 children who are in the Children and Youth System in Berks County, and over 20,000 children across PA at any given time. Having people join together on this Sunday to share a unified message and advocate for the children who are in foster care would be a tremendous help,” stated Karen Wentzel, Foster Parent Recruitment Supervisor. “Before the pandemic, we were expecting an increasing need for families in the fall, due to adoption of the Family First Act in PA, and now we are anticipating an even greater increase as the Stay at Home order continues.”
The Children’s Home of Reading Foster and Adoption program has embraced technology throughout the pandemic and are still receiving children and welcoming interested potential foster families. “Information sessions and trainings using online meeting software, YouTube and Facebook, emails and the old fashioned telephone call are the tools that most of the team are utilizing,” said Wentzel, “We had to cancel several recruitment and major fundraising events, speaking engagements and mailings and changed the way we deliver services. We’ve always adapted and changed to meet children and family’s needs throughout our 135-year history of serving Berks, Schuylkill, and the Greater Lehigh Valley and know we can count on the community to partner with and support us with this new event.”
To learn more about Foster Care Sunday and how to participate, or how to become a foster parent please call 610-478-8266 ext. 435 or visit The Children’s Home of Reading Facebook page or www.buildingkidslives.org.
