2 NCF counties currently have none
Partnership for Strong Families, the lead child welfare agency in North Central Florida, is seeking the community’s help recruiting foster parents, specifically in Dixie and Union counties as neither county has any licensed foster parents.
Dixie County currently has 10 youth in foster care while Union County has 23 youth in foster care. Without any licensed foster homes in these counties, PSF’s placement team must find homes for these youth outside of their home county. Moving a child outside of their home county can make a youth’s transition into foster care even more challenging.
“When a child is removed from their home and placed outside their county of residence, it makes it very difficult for them to maintain relationships with their friends. In some cases, when there are siblings who can’t be placed together, it may mean they do not get to see their brothers or sisterswith any regularity. If the child is in school, being placed in a different county can mean they are unable to continue in sports or other activities they enjoyed in their home community,” says Stephen Pennypacker, CEO and president of Partnership for Strong Families. “Adding this disruption to what is an already traumatic time in their lives is something we should all work to prevent.”
Families who wish to help us provide more loving homes for youth in foster care are encouraged to contact a recruitment specialist at 352-213-7219 or [email protected] to get the process started. One of the steps involved is graduating from the virtual PRIDE foster care training class. Families from Union County may sign up for an upcoming Lake Butler class running once a week from Feb. 17–April 14 from 6–9 p.m. Families from Dixie County may sign up for an upcoming Trenton class running once a week from March 15–May 10 from 6–9 p.m. The need for foster parents exists across PSF’s 13-county area, and families from all these counties are welcome to call to learn more about becoming a foster parent.
“If being a foster parent is something you are considering, we would love to talk with you further,” says Stevie Doyle, director of communications and engagement. “In order to become a licensed foster parent in the state of Florida, you can be single, married or living with a partner, and you must be 21 years old. Our recruitment team will be able to walk you through the process and answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding foster care and if this is the right fit for your family.”
Partnership for Strong Families is a community-based care lead agency contracted with the Department of Children and Families for Florida. PSF serves Judicial Circuits 3 and 8, including Alachua County to deliver comprehensive child welfare services to children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Partnership for Strong Families also works with at-risk families to prevent child abuse and to decrease the risk of children entering the foster care system. PSF serves more than 5,000 children in 13 counties annually.
To learn more about foster care, visit www.partnerfamily.org To learn more about Partnership for Strong Families, visit www.pfsf.org.
Agency works to close foster parent gap
2 north central Florida counties currently have none
Partnership for Strong Families, the lead child welfare agency in North Central Florida, is seeking the community’s help recruiting foster parents, specifically in Dixie and Union counties as neither county has any licensed foster parents.
Dixie County currently has 10 youth in foster care while Union County has 23 youth in foster care. Without any licensed foster homes in these counties, PSF’s placement team must find homes for these youth outside of their home county. Moving a child outside of their home county can make a youth’s transition into foster care even more challenging.
“When a child is removed from their home and placed outside their county of residence, it makes it very difficult for them to maintain relationships with their friends. In some cases, when there are siblings who can’t be placed together, it may mean they do not get to see their brothers or sisterswith any regularity. If the child is in school, being placed in a different county can mean they are unable to continue in sports or other activities they enjoyed in their home community,” says Stephen Pennypacker, CEO and president of Partnership for Strong Families. “Adding this disruption to what is an already traumatic time in their lives is something we should all work to prevent.”
Families who wish to help us provide more loving homes for youth in foster care are encouraged to contact a recruitment specialist at 352-213-7219 or [email protected] to get the process started. One of the steps involved is graduating from the virtual PRIDE foster care training class. Families from Union County may sign up for an upcoming Lake Butler class running once a week from Feb. 17–April 14 from 6–9 p.m. Families from Dixie County may sign up for an upcoming Trenton class running once a week from March 15–May 10 from 6–9 p.m. The need for foster parents exists across PSF’s 13-county area, and families from all these counties are welcome to call to learn more about becoming a foster parent.
“If being a foster parent is something you are considering, we would love to talk with you further,” says Stevie Doyle, director of communications and engagement. “In order to become a licensed foster parent in the state of Florida, you can be single, married or living with a partner, and you must be 21 years old. Our recruitment team will be able to walk you through the process and answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding foster care and if this is the right fit for your family.”
Partnership for Strong Families is a community-based care lead agency contracted with the Department of Children and Families for Florida. PSF serves Judicial Circuits 3 and 8, including Alachua County to deliver comprehensive child welfare services to children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Partnership for Strong Families also works with at-risk families to prevent child abuse and to decrease the risk of children entering the foster care system. PSF serves more than 5,000 children in 13 counties annually.
To learn more about foster care, visit www.partnerfamily.org To learn more about Partnership for Strong Families, visit www.pfsf.org.
