(Spencer)– A meeting for anyone interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents will be held Thursday, May 5th in Spencer.
Cyndee Dather of the Lakes Area Decategorization/Empowerment Board says the informational meeting will serve as an excellent opportunity to learn about becoming a foster or adoptive parent.
She says the need for foster or adoptive parents is very real right now. Dather estimates that as of right now, more than 40 kids in Dickinson county are in foster care. Of those, 35 have been placed outside the county. Dather says as a result, those children are faced with special challenges such as having to go to an unfamiliar school, it makes reunification with parents difficult because of distances they have to travel, and other issues.
Dather says the shortage doesn’t just exist in Dickinson county. She says it’s also prevalent in Clay, Osceola and O’Brien counties.
Dather says they’re also looking for adults who would be interested in doing respite, or part-time care, to give foster parents a break for a week or weekend. Adoptive homes are also needed.
The May 5th meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer. A free dinner will be served. Those planning to attend should pre-register by May 2nd by contacting Dather at 336-2555.
