Emphasizing the importance of supporting children in foster care, Leslie Vass with the Pennyrile Foster and Adoptive Family Association spoke on WHOP about how the community can support foster children and families in need.
The association operates in the nine county Pennyrile region and Vass says they are looking for more homes that would be able to host foster children, because there is a shortage of foster homes in the region. Vass says she started fostering children once she recognized there was an overflow of foster children and that she had the space in her home to welcome more children.
Vass says those with extra space in their homes could support a foster child.
In the Pennyrile region, Vass says Christian, Muhlenberg and Caldwell counties are the most in need for more foster families.
As a result of the shortage of homes, Vass says foster children are having to be housed in hotels and social worker offices.
For those interested in fostering children, Vass says attending a virtual informational meeting is the first step. The meeting shares what being a foster parent would entail and what is expected of them.
Attending a meeting does not lock someone in as a foster parent, and those interested in learning more about fostering children can call 270-889-6570 to register for a meeting. Vass says the next step would then be submitting a foster parent application. Application information can be found at adopt.ky.gov.
As of right now Vass says there is need for foster homes for older children and for families willing to take in siblings.
More information regarding the association can be found at their Facebook page, Pennyrile Foster and Adoptive Family Association.
Photo courtesy of the Pennyrile Foster and Adoptive Family Association Facebook page