Urgent Need for Licensed Foster Homes in Athens County
By Robin Webb
February 10, 2016ATHENS, OHIO – February 10, 2016 – Athens County Children Services announced that At the beginning of 2015 the agency had 79 children in custody. As of February 1, 2016 there were 106 children in agency custody. “Due to the impact of heroin and other drug addictions on the young parents in our community, we are in the midst of a critical shortage of foster families to care for children whose parents are battling drug addiction, said Cathy Hill, Executive Director. “We urge members of the Athens Community to step forward to help meet this challenge by becoming licensed foster parents”, Hill added.
Specifically, there is a need for homes that can take sibling groups and would be open to taking children of all ages. “We strive to keep sibling groups together if possible when they are being placed into temporary foster care, as that provides stability and continuity in the child’s life as they adapt to a new foster home,” said Tanja Kuhre, Foster Parent Recruiter and Trainer for Athens County Children Services. “Additionally, we try to keep children in their same school district when they get placed into our care, as another measure to minimize the disruption in the child’s life,” Kuhre added. “That is why it is critical that we add foster homes in all school districts across Athens County.”
ACCS will be hosting a free informational meeting for people interested or have questions about becoming a foster or adoptive parent in Athens County. The informational meeting will be Thursday, February 25th, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, at Athens County Children Services, Building 14. ACCS staff urges anyone considering foster care or adoption to attend this meeting and get any questions they might have answered. “There is absolutely no obligation to move forward after this meeting,” said Kuhre, “we just hope to educate people with the necessary steps, should they decide to move forward with becoming a licensed home.”
To learn more about foster care and adoption opportunities with Athens County Children Services, call Tanja Kuhre at 740-592-3061 ext. 105.
