Each year, thousands of children are taken from their homes and placed in foster or adoptive placements. The reasons are numerous, but generally include physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse. Many times factors such as drug addiction, domestic violence, poverty, homelessness or mental illness plague biological parents, preventing them from taking adequate care of their children. All of the above tragedies, compounded by the devastation of being separated from parents and family, are overwhelming for the children involved.
Children need nurturing homes where they can be safe, heal and thrive while their parents work things out. They need families willing to make a lifetime commitment if they cannot be reunified with their families of origin. And finally, these children need foster/adoptive parents trained and equipped to deal with the many special conditions that are rooted the tragedies they have lived.
If you are interested in making a difference in the life of a foster child, training is provided to assist you. Using a curriculum called P.R.I.D.E. (Parent Resource for Information Development & Education), developed by the Child Welfare League of America, prospective foster/ adopt families are provided with 21-hours of training. When you have successfully completed the P.R.I.D.E. training, you will have taken the first step to becoming a foster or adoptive parent.
