(Spirit Lake)– The number of children in Dickinson county in the foster care system is higher than in neighboring counties, and is the third highest in a 16-county area of northwest Iowa.
That’s according to statistics presented today (Tuesday) to the Dickinson county board of supervisors by Annette Eckert of Spirit Lake who is the foster care/child care advocacy program coordinator for the third judicial district of northwest Iowa.
Eckert says most of the children are victims of abuse or neglect, or drug use.
As of March 4th, Eckert says there were 35 children in Dickinson county in the foster care system. That compared with three in Osceola county; 10 in O’Brien county; 28 in Clay county; 10 in Palo Alto county; and 12 in Emmet county.
Eckert believes the number is greater in Dickinson county because the county has a more transient population due to the tourism trade.
Compounding the problem, Eckert says, is the ongoing need for more foster homes. Although 35 children in Dickinson county were in the foster care system last month, there were only 15 foster care homes.
Eckert says they’re also looking for two people to fill vacancies on the local foster care review board. Anyone interested should contact her.
