Agency having hard time placing children in homes
Family Pathways — the nonprofit organization offering outpatient therapy, family-based foster care and adoption services — is facing a foster home shortage.
There aren't enough Butler County families willing to take in children and teens left homeless by their parents' substance abuse or mental problems, said Dr. Elan Welter Lewis, founder and executive director of Family Pathways.
Lewis said her organization often gets calls from county caseworkers looking to place children in a foster home and “unfortunately, we are running into the fact the homes are full, and we are unable to take children.”
Sara McKinley, the organization's placement coordinator, and Kortney McConnell, its permanency coordinator, said the shortage means children and teens are being placed with families far away from their schools, making visitations with their parents more difficult, or being kept longer in group homes.
Charlie Johns, the director of Butler County Children & Youth Services, said, “We want them in a place as family-friendly as possible and to be as normal as possible.”
McKinley said the home shortage is more acute for older children and teens.
“Those homes fill up as fast as we can get them,” said McKinley. Homes willing to take sibling groups of three or more children also are in short supply.
'Fallout from COVID'
Lewis said, “There is a people shortage everywhere right now. It's fallout from COVID.
“People are concerned with COVID. They are not thinking about the community as much,” she said. “They may not be aware of the need.”
McKinley said, “There are some weeks we will get four or five phone calls a day for children we cannot place.”
The shortage in foster homes coincides with an increase in the number of children who need a home.
McKinley said one unexpected result of the pandemic is an increase in the number of children getting charged with truancy for not going to school.
McConnell said it's an old problem that has re-emerged.
“School is hard for them this year,” she said. “They had Zoom classes last year. They are struggling with stuff, and they just don't go to school.”
Johns said what's interesting is that while the number of children needing foster homes hasn't changed in the 20 years he has been head of Children & Youth Services, the types of children changes.
Right now, he said, older children and teens with behavioral and mental health issues are the biggest segment of his agency's clients.
A kink in the foster home supply chain is the clearances potential families must get before a child is placed in their home.
Foster parents must pass criminal, FBI and child abuse clearances and take 12 hours of training.
“We want them to be prepared and trained to deal with traumatized kids,” said McKinley.
Potential foster homes themselves must pass muster.
There has to be ample space available for each foster child and comfortable bedding.
There's also a need for “respite parents,” foster homes that can take a foster child for a weekend to give the foster parents a bit of a breather, such as a day with a babysitter or a weekend with their grandparents.
Foster parents aren't expected to take in children for free. Lewis said there is a per-diem rate to cover the costs of taking in a child.McConnell said a Family Pathways worker will work with new foster parents in each placement to help recognize the type of needs the fostered child has.McKinley said the duration of a child in a foster home can be up to 15 months.“It really depends on the parents' ability to work the plan,” she said. “At 15 months, we go for more permanent moves.”McKinley and McConnell said it's important to remember that these are normal, scared children.
Family Pathways is having a National Adoption Awareness Month event at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 14. It will be a screening of the movie “Clifford the Big Red Dog” at Movie Scoop (formerly Regal Cinemas) in Moraine Point Plaza.A small popcorn and drink will be provided. Those who bring a friend interested in learning more about foster care will receive a ticket for a door prize. Those wishing to attend should RSVP by Monday by calling Autumn Rodgers at 724-284-9440.McKinley said those interested in becoming foster parents can also call Family Pathways at 724-284-9440 or email Pathways@familypathways.net.
