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DHR looking for foster parents
Published Wednesday, February 3, 2010
After a record year in adoptions, the Chilton County Department of Human Resources is making a push to recruit more foster parents in 2010.
They reported 26 adoptions between Oct. 1, 2008, and Sept. 30, 2009, a significant increase over the previous year.
So far, there have been eight adoptions in 2010, and Chilton County DHR director Marilyn Colson anticipates at least 10 more this year.
Given that all 26 children were adopted by their foster parents, the agency wants to increase awareness throughout the state that more foster parents are needed.
Currently, there are 94 foster children and 34 foster homes in Chilton County, according to Colson.
The main priority is to continue finding children permanent homes, which all of the 26 children from last year found through DHR.
“The fact that there were so many foster parents willing to adopt, that’s awesome,” Colson said. “Statewide, the DHR focused on getting children permanent homes so children wouldn’t languish in the foster system.”
Along with foster home licensing worker Christy Haigler and the rest of the DHR staff, Colson is putting notices in newspapers, sending out mailings, creating displays at libraries and making other efforts to spread the word that they need new volunteers to take care of the children.
Their next parent training class begins March 4. Colson said it is a very intense, 10-week class where potential foster parents learn all aspects of fostering, including dealing with the children and what all to expect during the process.
“The state can’t raise children; families raise children,” Colson said. “We’re constantly talking about the need for parents. We can provide the policy and support, and we can help take the children to the doctor. But we need families for children to live with. That’s what they all want.”
Colson will make public appearances to speak to community groups, and the DHR will place adds on pizza boxes and post fliers in local stores to spread awareness. Colson wants as much repetition as it takes before potential parents finally heed the call.
“They say folks have to hear about it and think about it six times before they make the commitment,” she said. “It is the greatest mission a family or person can take on because it’s making a difference in the life of a child.”
She said there is a misconception about foster parents who only take on the responsibility for personal or financial gain. On the contrary, Colson insists, those who invest their time into raising a child for life prove a rich and thoughtful commitment.
She cites DHR’s hiring of an adoption specialist, Pam Callaghan Moore, as a reason the agency saw such an increase in adoptions. Colson also said she’s seen a firm commitment from the juvenile court system to finding permanency for the children as well hard work from the state, her agency and local judges.
If the children are not placed in local foster homes, the DHR places them in treatment facilities, such as King’s Ranch in Shelby County, Safety net in Montgomery or Pathway in Enterprise. The agency does all it can to keep the children in foster homes in Chilton County, though, she said.
Most children come to the agency’s attention typically when schools, law enforcement officials or neighbors, make reports on abuse and neglect. Colson said a pair of nagging problems leading to the placement of the children persists.
“There are two huge problems that fuel the need for care: drug use by the parents and sexual abuse,” she said. “The drug use is just rampant.”
To volunteer services or seek more information, residents can call the licensing worker Christy Haigler directly at 280-2060.
Foster parents must meet licensing standards, go through background checks and meet home safety guidelines. DHR works with the families of foster children for 12 to 18 months.
If birth parents cannot provide a safe home, the organization seeks the termination of parental rights. In cases where parents are making a clear effort to reunite with their children, the waiting period may be extended.
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Comments
Posted by 91tiger (anonymous) on February 3, 2010 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want to encourage anyone thinking about adoption to go through these classes. We went through the classes as foster to adopt parents and in a couple of months we were a adopting a beautiful child. DHR does a great job with the whole process. If you a willing and able, please consider adoption or being a foster parent.
Posted by btaylor99 (anonymous) on February 4, 2010 at 5:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
my wife and i have fostered several children in the past two years, and two we are adopting. each one has been a joy to have in our home, whether it was just a weekend respite or several months foster care , we fell in love with them all. we felt like adopting each and every one, because these kids needs homes, its what they deserve, and iwe would adopt all 94 in foster care if we could. don't turn a child away or let them go to a facility. GIVE THEM A GOOD LOVING HOME ,as we have, you will be blessed for it I can personally atest to that!
Posted by southernpride (anonymous) on February 4, 2010 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I appreciate the willingness of people to be foster parents. I do not know how they do it. I wouldn't mind but I would not be able to return the kids if the court ordered they go back to their parents.
Guess that is kind of selfish. Anyway, I salute the foster parents.
Posted by my2cents (anonymous) on February 4, 2010 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Many couples want to be parents but are unable to get pregnant or have a successful pregnancy. Those people should consider becoming foster parents. If you truly want to be a parent for good reasons then why not be a foster parent and consider adopting foster children. You would be doing 2 good things instead of just one. 1. Being a good parent is always good but 2. being a parent to a child who is already here who doesn't have a good parent .. a child in need. is an extra good deed. When I have suggested this before to parents who are unable to have a child on their own, many times they have disagreed so it makes me wonder what are their motives for wanting to be a parent.. are they just wanting a child of their own because all their friends had a baby or because they desire all the attention from having a baby or what? The reason I say this is because being a parent to your own child or to someone else's birth child are one in the same. Someone doesn't have to have your DNA for you to be a good parent for them.
Posted by shondalouise (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope that DHR finds great Foster Parents. But, lets not forget that there are plenty of bad Foster Homes in Chilton County. DHR doesn't recoginize this. My sister's death anniversary is March 1st 2010. Her last words were, "I don't want to go back to my Foster Home!" Then she went out into my grandmother's Pasture and blew her brains out with a 38. She was only 16. I still have no answers as to why she done what she done. I would love to have her journal that she kept but her Foster Parents never gave it to us. We didn't get even half of all her things. Tons of things are missing. I myself can't have children. I had a little boy in April of 2007 and he passed away 9 days later. I would love to be a Foster Parent if I was able. I love children. I just encourage DHR to make sure they get GREAT FOSTER PARENTS and PLEASE DO NOT SETTLE FOR LESS. For those who are wondering why my sister got placed in Foster Care here are the reasons. My Mother was Bipolar and didn't make her go to school and from there they took her. I tried my best to get her and got shut down every time for no reason. My Mother is now deceased she passed away the 24th of March 2009, 23 days after my little sister killed herself. The state can’t raise children; families raise children! That is absolutely correct....but why couldn't my sister be with her FAMILY! We don't do drugs, drink or anything..but still got shot down everytime.............
Posted by peachqun4evr (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sl that is so sad. How did she get a gun at your grandmother's. Did she have issues too. Why blame the foster parents. Maybe you can channel and perhaps resolve this. I myself was adopted by a great family at age 4. I am one of the luck ones.
Posted by shondalouise (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone brought them down there loaded and not on safety. My sister didn't let my grandmother know they were there. Ya she had issues..she wanted to live with our Grandmother and they always put it on hold. I am not blaming the Foster Parents. I give great gratitude towards Foster Parents. But, people think that ALL FOSTER PARENTS ARE GREAT! And, that isn't the case. But, for her last words to be, "I don't want to go back to my Foster Home!" That just makes me wonder. I will never see my sister again to ask her. She was probably scared to say anything to anyone because she knew that she would be threw somewhere else and the date that she would be able to be with her family would be extended. So she kept it to herself and probably in her Journal that neither my grandmother or I will ever see. But, I am NOT BLAMING ANYONE all I am saying is....there is unanswered questions that probably could be answered if MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN ALL OF HER THINGS. I am very glad to hear that you had a awesome family and were adopted by an awesome family for that I hope you are grateful! And, YES YOU ARE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES!! I am saying this, my sister did have problems but she was one of the BEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET AND I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CALL HER MY ONE AND ONLY SISTER OR RATHER MY ONLY SIBLING PERIOD. I am going to say Foster Care had something to do with it. NOT ALL OF IT! BUT, I PROMISE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT!
Posted by PeachCapitalusa (anonymous) on February 7, 2010 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet you all like them checks you get too.. i bet you love those checks more than those kids...
Posted by FosterParent (anonymous) on February 7, 2010 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh yeah, PeachCapitalUSA! You've got the right idea! We are getting rich, rich, rich, I tell you! These kids we foster don't need food, shelter, clothing, tutoring, extra-curricular activities, transportation to and from. It's amazing that children in foster care don't require the same things as children not in foster care. I guess everybody should be so lucky! A few more years of fostering and I'll be able to retire somewhere sunny!
Posted by JustMyOppinion_111 (anonymous) on February 7, 2010 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not think foster parents should be blamed for the actions of these foster children. Most of them have deep seeded issues that come from their biological families. I myself do not foster but I know a few foster parents that attend church with my family and I and I know that DHR can also make it very difficult for you to foster these children. It is impossible to treat a child as if they were your own when you have the state telling you how to raise them. Also, I know a couple that had their own child taken out of their home for a month and a half becuase of false accusations that a biological parent placed on the foste parent. Their foster child and bilogical child was removed until an investigation took place on the couple. It is JUST TOO RISKY IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN OF YOUR OWN.... Only special people can foster and it is a decision that should not be made lightly. Their are many pros and cons to fostering you should talk to not only DHR but current foster parents and most importantly previous foster parents and find out why they are no longer fostering.
Posted by freedomofspeech (anonymous) on February 8, 2010 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a friend, neighbor, of the foster parents mentioned above and I am one that can tell you they are wonderful people who have big hearts and love the lord. They are great foster parents to their children they do treat each of their children as if they were their own. This comment is for shondalouise: if you could only see their pictures and home movies of your sister, you would know she was happy at their home. And I am here to tell you, in sitituations like that where belongings are past from the foster home to DHR and then to the families home or to another foster home, things tend to sometimes have away of getting lost. I cannot imagine these people intentially keeping any of her things least not a journal. Because that was something that was said directly to me, the foster parents also were interested in finding her journal in hopes of finding a note or some sort of sign, anything. In closing, I feel that no one will ever know why she did what she did, but foster parents and foster care is not to blame. Chilton County is very fortunate to have the wonderful foster parents that they do have.
Posted by shondalouise (anonymous) on February 8, 2010 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I never said that the FOSTER PARENTS WERE THE ONES TO BLAME (FREEDOMOFSPEECH!) That is where you got me all wrong. I just know that the last thing she said was she didn't want to go back! If you will re read what I have posted you will realize that. I don't know why she done what she done. But, what I DO KNOW IS THAT SHE WANTED TO BE WITH HER FAMILY NOT IN FOSTER CARE! SO PLEASE RE READ WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN BECAUSE YOU HAVE ME ALL WRONG. And, another thing... HOW DO YOU LOSE A PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRLS JOURNAL????? AMY kept it in a special place where it wouldn't be lost........I am not trying to talk down on foster parents I am just saying and printing the FACTS OF THE SITUATION! I am going to say this...WHO IS BEING A MAID AND BEING CALLED CINDERELLA AND ALSO WHO IS THE NANNY NOW..BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT AMY WAS TO THEM!
Posted by freedomofspeech (anonymous) on February 8, 2010 at 7:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will pray for you and your family in the upcoming weeks. But I must say your facts are simply wrong, the best way for you to every have peace in your heart is to face these people and hear straight from them what she was to them because I know she was gift that God blessed them with for a short time and she was loved.
God Bless You.
Posted by 67MUSTANGGT (anonymous) on February 8, 2010 at 8:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Peachcapital, I agree with you to some degree.
Fosterparent, foster kids cost NO MORE than if they were your OWN children. If you are so good hearted, take it to the next level, return the State's money, and stop playing the charade.
You may or may not be the foster parents my wife and I overheard in public, recently, bragging about the checks. That was disgusting and turned me 100% against a foster parent program and the WASTING of my tax dollars.
Posted by shondalouise (anonymous) on February 9, 2010 at 1:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't see how my facts are wrong when I know my sister. She was my blood and she talked to me. Thank you for blessing me. Why go face to face with the Foster Parents...if something went wrong they aren't going to tell the truth! I can promise you that. They also told me that I could come get my sisters things at the hospital but what did they do..ship her stuff to DHR! Well, I am sorry SOME OF HER THINGS NOT ALL OF HER THINGS. Ya know why lie to me? I am not putting up a debate about it anymore! I have said what I needed to say and I am pretty sure she was SPECIAL TO THEM BUT I ASSURE YOU SHE WASN'T NEAR AS SPECIAL TO THEM AS SHE WAS TO ME AND MY FAMILY! And, I agree that they loved her. Who couldn't? She was a amazing person. But, for her last words to be, "I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK!" Explain that?????
Posted by outspoken (anonymous) on February 9, 2010 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You people need a hobby!!!! I just have to say I myself have been in foster care in Chilton County and my previous foster parents are mentioned on this Gossip page and I just want everyone to know that my previous foster parents were great. I was in 5 foster homes before I found my real home. SOme foster parents are really in it for the right reasons. I ended up leaving my foster home at the age of 19 and now I am engaged, working, and living my own life and I still talk to my prev foster parents from time to time. Not all foster parents and all foster care cases are bad. I don't know where I would have ended up if it had not been for my foster parents. Now, don't get me wrong, I hate DHR with a passion, but I loved my foster parents. If you are considering foster care, all I can say is GOOD LUCK working with those people.
Posted by myvoice (anonymous) on February 9, 2010 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to somewhat agree with (peachcapital) some foster parents in Chilton County do look at it as a job and could care less about these kids. We have heard a foster parent say that they needed to have six kids all the time just to pay their bills and some are constantly saying DHR never sends us kids we got three beds empty at our house and so on and so on. Some of these foster parents and DHR included treat these children like they are furniture and paychecks. They move them from place to place, home to home without considering the damage they are doing to these kids. To DHR these kids are just numbers.... They try to keep the numbers down so they leave kids in bad homes and send them back to bad homes to get them out of custody and the ones they can't get out of custody they continously move them from foster home to foster looking for someone who just might care for the kids enought to adopt them. Yes families raise childre, not DHR and not some of our foster parents. If you are considering becoming a foster parent. Consider this get one child or possible a SMALL sibling group and make a difference. Don't get greedy and just keep 6 or 8 or 10 just to make money on these kids. And to what you can for the kids that DHR does actually pull and do the best you can until DHR puts them right back into the situation they just took them out of. Good Luck Chilton COunty.
Posted by straighttalk99 (anonymous) on February 9, 2010 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Chilton County DHR has some real characters working for them! You should definitely seek previous foster parents whom have worked with them before.
Posted by straighttalk99 (anonymous) on February 9, 2010 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DHR really screwed up when they posted this article, because all it got them was bad publicity!!!
Posted by justchillin2012 (anonymous) on February 9, 2010 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG...We have to read this stupid paper in Economics everyday and pick an article to write about. I know ya'll feel me RIGHT.. Anyways I chose this one because I know several kids in foster care with lots of stories. I was acutally friends with Aymee we spent alot of time talking on Wednesday and Sunday nites. She was a wonderful beautiful girl with a personality that would make anyone love her you are right about that. And your right nobody knows why, but I know she didn't really wanna be in foster care she wanted to be with her GAGA but what teenager does wanna be in foster care. I think she liked her foster parents but they got on her nerves but what parent doesn't get on a teen's nerves. She also liked her family but they weren't always her favorite people either especiallly when her pc got pawned by somebody while she was in foster care. That sucks. And just to let you guys know she got the cinderella nickname bc of her shoes and dude we're 16 and 17 it's not like any of us are responsible enough to be anybodys nanny. Come on...Anyways I know her foster parents think it was like an impulse thing that wasn't thought out but her friends think it was planned becuase she gave alot of her stuff away to her friends, and told alot of people she loved them at Ash's b'day party. We've talked about it several times. Anyway this has nothing to do with this article, I just wanted to comment on you guys comments. As far as the article goes, I wouldn't mind being a foster parent one day, but I wouldn't make the kids be like no maid or nothing but they would need to pull they on weight and not be lazy slobs or nothing. I think I would rather keep teenagers cause I know what they go through every day and they don't need to be with like ole' people or nothing. Anyways, back to my paper. PEACE OUT>>>>>RIP AYMEE NICOLE HUDSON>>>>>WE LOVE YOU>>>>>>>>>>>
Posted by kidsrus (anonymous) on February 9, 2010 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! This article has gotten a lot of comments. My husband and I are foster parents and we do it because we have a love for children not the state's money, although it does help it doesn't make us wealthy. Yes DHR has it's days and so do some foster parents. But intially nothing or no one is perfect. I have kept children in my home that came with a garbage bag and left with a truck load. And yes, I have found out that somtimes everything you purchased for them while they were here was pawned in their first week home. That's just part of it. I know DHR and foster care has many horror stories and they only tell you the positive stuff in the GPS classes. The only way you can decide if fostering is for you is to really research it, talk about it, and most of all pray about it. But reading the gossip comments is not the way, I think we should all think of other people's feelings before we share some things.
Posted by straighttalk99 (anonymous) on February 9, 2010 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll say it again, DHR really should have thought twice before posting this article in the paper.. I wonder who the genius behind that was????
Posted by shondalouise (anonymous) on February 10, 2010 at 12:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Justchillin2012, I am glad to know that you knew my sister very well. How did she plan it when she didn't know the guns were coming since you know so much about her? And, second of all her computer did NOT GET PAWNED! And, what did she give you? Aymee told everyone she loved them all the time so that don't mean anything! But, I DO KNOW ONE THING PEOPLE NEED TO KEEP THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT MY SISTER TO THEIRSELF BECAUSE MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS HIGH AND WHEN IT COMES TO MY SISTER I AM NOT PLAYING AROUND ON THE INTERNET!!
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