Critical Need for Foster Parents
The Josephine County Child Welfare system is seeing a critical shortage in foster parents.
They say say the biggest problem is the bad economy and say many foster parents are now dropping out of the system because they just can't afford to take care of more kids.
The Pierce family is spending time just a few miles away from home this weekend at Valley of the Rogue State Park.
Patty Pierce has five children, five foster children she cares for from Josephine County.
"School starts next week we did the whole, going to work from the campsite, so the kids could spend the day riding their bikes playing volleyball so they don't have to miss their appointments, whether its counseling or visits, or whatever it is they have to go do," said Pierce.
Pierce and her husband Luke have been foster parents for three years now, juggling their busy schedules. Financially, it hasn't been easy, but it's not just them. Josephine county child welfare officials say the economy has hit the entire system hard.
"What's happening right now a lot of it is what's going on with economy right now people dropping out of foster parent program because of economy needing more money to support their own family," said Dean Nunnemaker, a foster care certifier.
Nunnemaker has been working with the agency for 25 years. He's never seen it as bad as this - about 160 children in the system, with only 50 foster homes.
"We have a critical need for foster parents in our community right now," he said.
He says stay-at-home parents are having to go back to work and feel they don't have the time or money to take care of more kids.
Pierce says its all about learning and understanding, these kids, just need a loving home.
"These children coming into foster system need everything brand new don't expect it, they just need somebody to keep them safe, introduce new things to them they just want to have fun," said Pierce.
If they aren't placed in homes in Josephine County, these kids could be brought to homes in Jackson or even Douglas counties, making it more difficult for them to have visits with their parents.
But Josephine county child welfare officials say what's going on there is a state-wide problem.
The foster parent certification process takes about two to three months and involves background checks and training.
To get in touch with the Oregon Department of Human Services' Child Welfare agency call (541) 474-3120 or (800) 930-4364.
