Search for foster families extends across Western Mass.

Date: 8/3/2021

WESTERN MASS. – While the number of children in foster care continues to increase, the number of families willing to foster them has decreased. In an effort to help these children, local and regional organizations are working diligently to help them find their forever homes.

Through information provided by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF),  they serve nearly 42,000 children across the commonwealth every day. Of that number, about 8,400 children currently in foster care in Massachusetts live in kinship, unrestricted, or pre-adoptive family foster homes.

Andrea Grossman, director of public affairs at DCF explained that kinship or child specific foster parents are relatives. This includes grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, etc. Typically, this is where a child feels most comfortable.

In 2017, DCF conducted a statewide foster care reform which has included the increase in children being cared for by relatives. Data shows that approximately 57 percent of DCF foster homes are kinship/child specific homes. This percentage increased from the original 48 percent when the tracking began in 2009. “National research shows children whose relatives serve as their foster parents are more stable and successful in foster care,” said Grossman.

Unrestricted foster parents volunteer themselves to care for children in state custody. They must be trained and licensed by the Department before doing so. Finally, pre-adoptive foster parents are licensed by the Department and are either looking to adopt children from foster care or are going through the process to do so.

Grossman said that the court determines all custody. They have the power to terminate parental rights. Additionally, if a foster parent wishes to adopt a child from foster care, they must be approved to do so by both DCF and the courts.

DCF informed Reminder Publishing that during the pandemic, the pace of adoptions was “hampered” due to court closures.

“DCF is continuously identifying, recruiting and training foster parents to provide a greater range of foster homes to appropriately match children with families who can meet their specific needs,” said a DCF spokesperson.

Even through the pandemic, DCF worked to provide the Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) training through a virtual platform.

“No matter what, we are always looking for foster families,” said Grossman. “We can never have enough.”

To locate more homes across the state, DCF works closely with the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), which is unique in Western Mass. MARE is a Boston-based nonprofit organization that was established in 1957. According to their website, they serve as a “central clearinghouse” in providing information about adoption from foster care for families.

“DCF works with MARE in their efforts to serve children and teens in foster care who need adoptive homes and recruit families who meet an individual child’s specific needs,” said Grossman.

Along with DCF, MARE works closely with contracted adoption agencies. 

Maurine Albano, child services coordinator of the Western Region has been a part of the organization for over 20 years. She claimed that fostering/adoption is incredibly tough when trying to place kids based on their situations. For instance, if someone has a sibling, this may prevent a family from wanting to adopt. Other times, families may put additions on their homes or make adjustments so that they can foster.

Typically, Albano said children of color or those with disabilities often struggle to find a home. As a result, MARE has had to widen their searches for families beyond the state – including Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and even Florida.

“Kids are lingering in foster care longer,” said Albano. “There are lots of challenges and not everyone adjusts well.”

One important thing that MARE provides to their children is a choice. Albano said, “Kids have a voice in this.” At the age of 16 or 18, a child is able to make their own choices, or they may even extend custody to the age of 21, if they desire.

Regarding choice, MARE is currently in a desperate search for a foster family in the Agawam/West Springfield area. Deidra Graham of MARE and Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter in the Western region informed Reminder Publishing that although they are looking for families primarily across the Western Region, right now, the urgency relies in this area.

Currently, there is a teenage boy in Agawam/West Springfield, aged 16, that is in need of a home. Graham explained that the young man doesn’t want to leave the state because he has sibling contact here.

Graham described the boy as incredibly active – plays football, goes hiking, takes drumming lessons, and most recently, began shop classes at school. “He’s a great student … he’s always willing to learn and has good grades,” said Graham. “He loves working with his hands.”

Graham believes that this boy needs a family who may have already raised kids, or has older boys that can assist this young man with all that comes with “man hood” and offering advice. For instance, a first job, learning how to drive/getting a permit, preparing for college, etc.

Graham said that many people don’t like fostering teenagers as they assume they’ve already been raised. However, this is not true. Everyone is still learning – just at different stages in their lives, claimed Graham.

She went on to say that this boy has been in the foster care system since the age of four. At one point, he had a pre-adoptive placement but unfortunately they passed away suddenly. Now, he is in search of his forever home and with the help of Graham and her team at MARE, they remain hopeful to find one.

“I wish someone would give him a chance,” said Graham.

Although this may not be for everyone, Albano said that it doesn’t hurt to mention it to your family and friends because you never know who may be interested.

If you or someone you know may be interested in fostering this young man, email Deidra Graham directly at deidrag@mareinc.org.     For additional information on MARE or to become a foster parent, visit their website at www.mareinc.org.

Similar to MARE is a local nonprofit organization known as All Our Kids, based out of Western Massachusetts. The organization was founded in 2017, by Dr. Marianna Litovich who is also the board president. Litovich and five others began this organization which is now led by a board of 10 people.

All Our Kids is strictly volunteer run and is a grass-roots effort funded through donations, explained Litovich. Currently, they don’t have a designated headquarters, but are hopeful to establish one soon.

Litovich said that they worked hard to create this organization in Western Mass. “We connect people provide resources as adoptive and foster parents.” All Our Kids is available to help and advocate for families to help in foster care. “We support families in remaining engaged,” said Litovich. “We can’t afford to lose any more.”

Litovich said the need for foster care families is a problem state-wide. “We were doing fairly well before the pandemic, but since the pandemic, we haven’t had an increase in homes.”

While COVID-19 allowed for everything to take place behind closed doors at home, Litovich said no kids were coming in for them to help. However, as kids slowly start to return, more resources are needed.

“I hope that as people feel more comfortable, they consider being a part of the solution,” said Litovich. For the foster families who have been put on “pause” during the pandemic, Litovich hopes they will come back and get involved.

“I think it will take time,” she predicted.

For additional information on All Our Kids, visit https://fosteringaok.org/.