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Foster Families Needed
Foster Families
Needed
by
Tory Oliver, MSW
What does family mean to you? Are
you interested in opening your home to a child or teen that is in need
of a nurturing and supportive environment? It may be easier and more accessible
than you may have realized to become a foster parent within the state
of Vermont. Children come into the state’s custody for a variety
of reasons.
Some of these reasons include
abuse or neglect by their caregivers, or most often teenagers come into
custody because they either commit a delinquent act or are beyond their
parent’s control. Because children who come into care come from
many different backgrounds, it is important to find diverse foster families.
In order to become a foster parent, you must be at least 21 years old.
You can be single, married, living
with a partner or joined through a civil union. Applications are considered
regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
You must have sufficient income to support your family and you can live
in either a house or apartment, as long as you have enough room to house
a child. We are looking for people who enjoy being around children, who
will treat children in foster care like their own and stick with them
even when they act out, people who can provide direction in a nurturing
way, people who are able to ask for help when they need it, and parents
who are willing and able to work as a team in order to best support this
child and his or her specific needs.
Does this describe you? Foster parents
open their hearts and homes to children in need - for a few weeks, months,
years, and sometimes a lifetime. By becoming a foster parent, you could
make it possible for a local child to stay in his or her own community
and school.
If you are interested in making a
difference in a child’s life, then please call the Vermont State
Department for Children and Families to find out more.
Tory Oliver, MSW, is Resource Coordinator at the Hartford District
Office. You may contact her at 1-802-295-8840 or 1-800-658-1198.