WEST BARNSTABLE – May is National Foster Care Month and an effort to recruit more foster parents and adoptive parents on Cape Cod will take place Sunday afternoon.
The Department of Children and Families and the YMCA Cape Cod are teaming to hold an informational event at the YMCA’s West Barnstable location from noon to 3 p.m.
“The event is to spread awareness throughout the Cape and the Islands of the need that we have for foster homes and adoptive homes for children throughout the Commonwealth and locally on Cape Cod,” said Loretta Twomey, a social worker for the Department of Children and Families.
Twomey said there is a significant demand for foster and adoptive parents on the Cape.
“We have children going night to night in homes because we really don’t have any long-term placements,” Twomey said. “We’re also in need of short-term placements.”
There are between two and 12 children in need of placement each night on Cape Cod.
Twomey said being a foster parent takes a lot of hard work.
“We’re really just looking for people that are willing to open their homes and take these children at a time when their family may need to work on some things so they can return home,” she said.
She said the experience of being a foster or adoptive parent is a rewarding one.
“Not only are you able to help the children learn about life and things that are going on but you often end up learning from them as well,” Twomey said.
Most of the foster children on the Cape only require short-term placement.
“More often than not they return to their families,” Twomey said. “Really we just need short and long-term and even hotline homes.”
The hotline homes are foster homes that are available when children come into care late at night.
The event on Sunday will also feature activities for children including a magician, face painting and balloon animals. There will also be door prizes and raffles.
Twelve other YMCA locations in southeastern Massachusetts will also hold similar events on Sunday. A list of those locations can be found here.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
Speak Your Mind