Foster Families Needed in Cobb County
There is an urgent need for foster homes for teenagers and Spanish-speaking children.
The Cobb County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is looking for foster families to care for the almost 300 children currently in the department's care.
Cindy Teate, a resource development supervisor with the department, says that there is a "critical need" for families who can support teenagers. Most teenagers under DFCS care stay in group homes, unlike younger children.
According to Teate, there are around 280 children in foster care in Cobb County, with 120 foster families to support them. The department is looking for more families to take in foster children, including Spanish-speaking families and families who can accommodate two or more children to prevent the breakup of siblings.
Families interested in becoming foster families must attend an orientation session held on the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the department's office at 325 S. Fairground St. in Marietta.
Following orientation, families take a 20-hour training course to prepare them for their foster responsibilities. Families must also submit to tuberculosis and drug screens.
Following the completion of all required paperwork and class time, Cobb DFCS can usually complete a foster home study within 60 days.
Foster families receive a $14-$18 per diem based on the age of the child they are fostering, and most foster children qualify for Medicaid. Additionally, a small clothing allowance is provided and many community members help out for Christmas presents, summer camp fees, and other expenses.
Despite these financial aids, Teate denies that foster families are simply raking in money.
"That's the most common misconception we have to dispel," she said.
Teate encourages interested families to attend the next orientation session to meet with department staff and talk about their concerns or ask questions. Cobb DFACS is committed to preparing families for the challenges and rewards of becoming foster families.
Bob
9:06 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Republicans who are against abortion should have been lining up around the block to adopt unwanted children or to at least act as foster parents to those children. The Cobb County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) should not have to be looking for families to care for these children. Republicans tend to care more about children before they are born than afterwards.
Greg T
10:20 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
There are a lot of Republicans who foster children. Michelle Bachman fostered 23 children. I guess you like her political ideology? Republican Governor Sony Perdue fostered and past legislation like the Foster Care Bill of Rights due to his personal experience in understanding the needs of foster parents.
What national Democrat fosters children? If more Democrats would foster children, DFCS wouldn't have to ask for more help. Can you put your time where you mouth is? You know it takes more than taking other peoples time and money to actually help the community at large.
Can you do what the moderator said, and leave the politics out of this one because bickering about a political matter doesn't do the children any good. We can argue all day long about who is better, but Cindy is simply stating a need.
Are you going to help the children or not?
fran
8:29 am on Wednesday, April 10, 2013
I agree wholeheartedly. It's all about the sanctity of life when you are in utero; it's a different story when you are born.
Justin Ove
10:07 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Guys,
I don't think a requirement to be a foster parent is to belong to a certain political party. Let's keep this civil and on topic.
Thanks,
-Justin
Bob
12:12 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
I never said that to be a foster parent you must belong to a certain political party. The way you misconstrued what I said leads me to believe you are a Republican since if you listen right wing radio, it is the normal way of doing things. Again, to repeat myself, most Republicans are always saying they care so much about the unborn but what about the born. Shouldn't they care just as much and want to take in all unwanted or neglected children. Thus, there should not be a shortage, especially in Christian Cobb county, of families willing to be foster parents.
Jon Murphy
10:24 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
what the heck does this have to do with abortion? Sheesh, don't apply to my business with your dumb thought process.
Bob
12:21 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
You do not have to worry about me applying for a job at your your business. I have been retired for quite a few years. Considering your comment and your lack of understanding of what I said, it would probably have been a step down for me to have worked for you.
Elyse Ted
12:31 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
There is such a need everywhere for good foster parents: http://www.kidspeace.org/fosterparent.aspx?ekmensel=77931891_50_52_224_1
Greg T
12:31 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Cobb County is a leader in the state of Georgia. Cindy, from DFCS, honestly cares for the children. The private organization called Cobb County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association works with DFCS to help meet the needs of the children here in Cobb. Both DFCS and CCFAPA are branching out to help other counties. Private and public service is what takes place in Cobb County.
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They could really use help from retired individuals and families. You control who comes into your home and how long they stay. The compensation covers most expenses for a middle class family. Most families only want the younger children. Thanks to the economic downturn, there are more children entering the system. You get an automated call that describes the age and the specific need. If you want to help, then you call in to get more details. The more people who help, even if it is for a limited time, the better overall. Hey, the benefit of taking in the older kids are that they go to school and don't need as much time as the younger children.
Retired people are a great fit for the older kids.
Rhonda Sciortino
3:08 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
If you can't be a foster parent, there are lots of ways you can help kids. http://www.rhondasciortino.com/tools_help_kids/ If you can consider foster parenting, understand going into it that it may be the hardest, but MOST REWARDING work you'll ever do. Imagine raising the next Tom Monaghan, billionaire founder of Dominos Pizza, or the next John Lennon, or the next Michael Oher. There are so many successful survivors of child abuse, and in the case of each one, there was someone who took an interest and was willing to invest the time. www.rhonda.org