Foster Parents Need Our Support

Orange County long has had a difficult time finding enough foster parents, which puts a premium on retaining the ones already providing care for other people’s children.

Next month, the county will help ease the burden on foster parents by providing helpers for tasks like giving children a hand with homework or getting them to medical appointments. The expenditure of $140,000 in federal funds for the helpers is recognition that the adults deserve as much assistance as possible, especially if they are looking after two or more children or those with special needs.

The Board of Supervisors also has approved spending more money to recruit and train people willing to care for children born to parents infected with HIV or exposed to drugs in the womb.

Recent county figures showed about 1,850 children in foster homes and about 800 in larger, privately operated group homes and in institutions like Orangewood, the county-operated home for neglected and abused children. Another 2,400 are supervised by the county while continuing to live in their own or relatives’ homes. That tally of 5,000 children overseen by the county is more than twice the number of a dozen years ago.

One reason for the increase has been the increased reports of child abuse over the years, a pattern seen throughout the country. In addition, a mobile society means fewer friends and family members nearby to help when parents get overburdened or addicted or wind up in jail.

Orange County social workers long have tried to keep families together rather than snatching a child away at the first complaint of mistreatment by a parent. It’s a policy that requires good judgment. The safety of the child has to be the first concern.

Recruiting foster parents has been a tough job for years. The number required is large because many adults willing to take on the burden put restrictions on age, religion, sex or race. Others adopt the children or move away. With reimbursements of $350 to $500 a month per child, foster parents are not out to make money. Providing extra help and letting them know that their efforts are appreciated can help retain parents who provide a needed service and can assist in recruiting new ones.