They made me feel safe, gave me food, gave me a nice house and someone to talk to if I am scared or have questions. There are more than 1.5 million children in foster care today. Parents may lack the parenting skills to address family problems, and need support. Alcohol and drug abuse by the parents may lead to continued neglect and abuse. The Solution Growing up without a family is a lonely and confusing experience.
Experts note that the loss of family is the greatest human grief apart from dealing with death.
Foster parents fill the void where birth parents have failed by opening their hearts and homes to children who would otherwise experience hardships no person should ever have to bear. The children in need of a temporary family are between the ages of birth to 17. They enter into the Specialized Foster Care Program through referrals by the courts, the Family Independence Agency, and Community Mental Health. All of the children in the program have identified emotional or behavioral problems. They all need a caring and committed foster family to restore hope an offer a safe place to belong, making a difference in a child's lifetime.