May is National Foster Care Month. It is a time to acknowledge the more than 8,000 children and youth of Tennessee who live in or are in desperate need of a foster care home and the family members and foster parents who care for them. I recently interviewed Rebecca Horton, Recruitment Specialist Team Leader for The Omni Family of Services (Omni Visions), to learn more about foster care and the needs of foster families.

So, let’s start with the basics. What is foster care? Adults who have been licensed by their state and have graciously open their homes to a child in need of a stable and nurturing environment in which to thrive. When Child Protective Services (CPS) receives a report, and an investigation determines that a minor’s home is not an appropriate environment, the state/CPS removes the child from their home. The primary reason for removal is usually abuse or neglect, but it is also occasionally due to the minor’s behavior. Once removed from their home, for whatever reason, a new home is needed. If the Department of Human Service (DHS) does not have a home available, they send out referrals to placement agencies, like Omni Visions.

Unfortunately, the number of children being removed from their homes is rising. Sadly, the availability of welcoming and healthy foster homes is not keeping pace. According to Horton, the greatest need is always placement of teenagers because people are afraid of getting “damaged” kids. No child is apt to experience the trauma of being taken from their parents and not be adversely affected by it. Ironically, Horton feels that teenagers are probably easier to deal with because they can express themselves, are less confused about what they have been through, and are already participating in therapy. Sibling groups can also be difficult to place because few homes have appropriate bed space for multiple children. One rule of thumb is no more than two same-sex children per bedroom.

What kind of home is appropriate to become a licensed foster home? Any welcoming home with healthy adults and adequate facilities. You can learn more about specific state guidelines at www.adoptuskids.org. Procedures vary from one agency to another because placement agencies can constrict their own requirements. The goals of foster care are to keep the children safe, while providing tools for the family to be reunited when possible. Foster parents may also interact with the biological family.

Horton believes the most successful foster parents are those who can roll with the flow and not hyper-focus on every detail—having a laid-back personality with the wisdom to pick your battles and truly care for the kids sets foster families up for success. Rural communities tend to do very well, and Union County, in particular, really excels. Horton exclaims she wishes she had many more homes in Union County and like those of Union County in other areas.

Horton wants to assure you that you will not be in it alone for anyone who is considering opening their home to a child in need. Every foster parent in the state of Tennessee completes KEY (Knowledge Empowers You) training. The placement agency may also offer more training specific to their company and the child’s needs. Speaking only for Omni Visions, Horton relayed that they provide therapeutic training, a resource coordinator who maintains regular contact with the foster parents, home visits, and what really knocked my socks off is that Omni Visions offers respite care!

Respite = “Rest a bit” (but spelled differently). Two nights, two weekends a month, Omni Visions foster families have the opportunity to embrace respite services. Respite gives the foster parents and children a break from their regular routine and offers the foster kids a chance to interact and build relationships with additional healthy adults. The excursion should be a fun visit, like going to Grandma’s for a couple of nights.

Horton wants prospective foster parents to know that their home is still their home and it’s their life; they should always do what works best for their family. There are lots of options, and it is ok to take a break between placements.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, please contact Serenity Andrews at (865) 524-4393 Ext. 1 or sandrews@omnivisions.com, or visit their website at www.theOmniFamily.com.

This May, National Foster Care Month—and any other time of year you are able—if you know a foster family, please find a way to bless them as they have blessed these children in need. Although the word “foster” does not appear in the Bible, I believe the brother of Jesus expressed the spirit of lifting these families very well in James 1: 27 “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (NKJV)