Foster parents sought for Warren County children
Warren County can use some more qualified foster parents, according to foster care recruiter Julie Metcalf.
“Here in Warren County, we really need a lot more foster parents due to meth labs and things like that going on. We’ve had more and more kids coming into custody,” Metcalf said. “And we’d like to keep kids in their home county, not removed from Warren County, so they can stay in their same schools and so forth.”
Since many people may not be sure how to go about becoming a foster parent, Metcalf said there are classes available for those who are interested in providing this much-needed service to the county’s children.
“We’re starting a class in October for people to be trained as foster parents,” she said. “There’s no charge for it, and if anybody would like more information they can call our toll-free number, 1-888-335-9486.”
Foster care is something many people take for granted. The concept has been around for a long time, and is a part of most societies in some form. Even in primitive societies, if a child was left parentless, someone in the village or tribe, usually a relative, provided for them.
Sometimes that worked well, but sometimes, unfortunately, it did not. As populations in metropolitan areas grew, eventually some children found themselves relegated to “workhouses” where they became what essentially amounted to slave-labor, a situation that was dramatized, and denounced, in novels such as Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.”
It took modern societies and governmental systems to formalize and institutionalize the process. These days, those interested are required to fill out paperwork and take courses on parenting skills in order to become a foster parent.
One thing that has never changed is the need for qualified foster parents.
According to Metcalf, there are approximately 500 children in the Upper Cumberland area who are currently in foster care, and not enough families to care for them. She pointed out if anyone is interested, there is a great support system in Warren County.
Foster parent support worker Sonja McQuiston, who covers the Warren County area, said foster care is very important to local children who find themselves in custody for whatever reason.
“For the large majority, it’s a home away from home,” she said.
Like Metcalf, McQuiston said meth is by far the main reason children come into custody. Neglect, unsanitary home conditions, and sexual abuse also come into play.