Foster Care: There's Always a Need

Fostering a child requires a significant commitment of time and resources, but for many helping a child feel loved and safe, and participating in the growth and development of a child is a just reward.

Community Health Resources (CHR), a non-profit behavioral health agency that serves northeast and north-central Connecticut, is a helps to match children with emotion and behavioral needs with families willing to foster.

“Our children are in need of caring individuals and couples willing to open their hearts and homes,” CHR Family Recruitment Coordinator Judy Anderson said.

Anderson recently visited the Suffield Rotary Club to discuss the benefits of foster care with the Rotarians. The trip to Suffield was part of a series of visits she is making in the area to raise awareness and interest in fostering children.

“I feel that every child deserves a home,” Anderson said.

CHR finds therapeutic foster care (TFC) for children from age 5 to age 18 who have been removed from their original homes because of “abuse, neglect or abandonment,” according to information from CHR. It is a licensed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and many of the children represented by CHR are involved with the state department because of the abuse or neglect they have endured.

“The children that are referred to the TFC program have a history of complex emotional and behavioral needs that require a structured and nurturing environment,” according to literature from CHR.

Before CHR staff place children in a home the families must meet a set of criteria (including having home and auto insurance, an extra room, and being in good physical and mental health) and pass a background check. Foster families also complete a home study by CHR personnel of family function, relationships, disciplinary methods and history. They must go through a series of interviews and successfully complete the first part of an ongoing training curriculum, according to CHR staff.

Because the children have serious needs, the organization provides thorough, continuing support for foster parents. The agency provides training and assistance to foster families in the home and in an outpatient setting.

Services range from clinical and psychiatric assessments to family therapy to on-call emergency information and coverage. Crisis intervention and support, along with cognitive behavior therapy and psychological treatment are also available.

Foster parents also receive a stipend that helps them handle the financial involvement that comes with adding a child to their family.

CHR matches foster children to parents based the personality, needs, challenges and strengths of the child and how he or she mesh with the foster family.

Although fostering a child requires dedication, time and significant effort, it provides an invaluable service to children who need a family.

“You may be the one person who makes a difference in a child’s life,” Anderson said.

To find more information about fostering children through CHR, visit their Web site. Interested parents and families can contact Judy Anderson of CHR at 860-416-7340 and janderson@chrhealth.org. Anderson also welcomes opportunities to speak to community and civic groups about foster care and CHR's foster program.

CHR is currently looking for foster families in the following towns as well as others:

• East Windsor
• Ellington
• Enfield
• Manchester
• Mansfield
• Somers
• Suffield
• Tolland
• Vernon
• Windsor
• Windsor Locks