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Tuesday, November 15, 1977
University Daily Kansan
Foster parents in short supply
By DICK DODSON Staff Writer
Staff Writer
A shortage of foster homes throughout the nation and particularly in Lawrence has left many needy children homeless and has prompted action by the Kansas State Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) in Douglas County.
Maud Gambhiel, a social worker with the University Community Services Center (UCSC) who is assisting the SRS in finding foster homes, said recently that the shortage of foster homes is chronic and that the problem deserves continuing community
The UCSC, an organization that provides case-work services to the Lawrence community, also is working with the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare to help provide foster care for children in the community.
AS OF SEPT 1, SRS had 131 children in its custody but only 36 foster homes. Children who cannot be placed in foster homes are or must remain in detention centers.
According to Forrest L. Swall, assistant professor of social welfare, one reason why foster parenthood is not more popular is that more funds are directed toward group or institutional care than toward foster parent programs.
He said one way of remedying this and of placing a higher value on foster parenthood was to increase the fees paid to foster parents.
Foster homes now receive reimbursements for the amount of money they spend on a child. The reimbursements vary with the type of foster child cared for.
GAMBIELI SAID increasing foster parents' fees may become necessary.
"If that's the only way to stimulate parents," she said, "then a professional recognition of the foster parent—maybe a $50 salary a month—is needed."
The SRS, and two private agencies, the Trinity Children's Services Inc. (TCS) and the St. Charles School District (SCD).
Kansan posts deadline near
Friday is the deadline for applications for the positions of editor and business manager of the spring Kansas.
Applications are available in 105 Ft Flim Hall; the Student Senate office, 105B Kallan Union; the dean of men's office, 105B Kallan Union; and the dean of women's office, 220 Strong.
Applications should be turned in at 106 Flint Hall by 5 p. m. Friday. Applicants will be interviewed by the Kansas board of the time and place of the interviews.
services to children who may need foster care in Lawrence. They offer temporary homes for the children until the children can be placed with a parent or be permanently placed in a foster home.
Each agency provides various types of care. For example, parents interested in providing a short-term stay for a child may work under the auspices of VIC. This agency usually handles children or adolescents who are first offenders and who are awaiting court hearings and foster home placement. Instead of sending the child to a detention center to await the court's decision, VIC encourages that the child spend days. If the court decides that the child cannot return to his natural family, he is then placed under the custody of the SRS.
ONCE THE CHILD is placed under the custody of SRS, this agency is required by law to find a foster home for the child within 20 days following the court hearing.
But the number of children for whom the SIRS needs to supply foster homes often is smaller.
To help relieve some of the burden carried by SRS, Lorita Whitaker, a former foster parent working with this public agency, created private agency, Trinity Children's Services Inc.
Whitaker, the executive director of TCS, said her agency helped provide foster homes similar to those offered by VIC. But her agency provides the child with a home for a period of up to 30 days following the adoption that the custodial rights are given to SRS.
The type of care offered by TCS allows assessment of the child and determination of the type of foster care needed. This is being done in a drive to cut down on the turnover rate, the shuffling of children from temporary foster home to foster home.
SHE SAID the turnover rate has been so bad that one 11-year-old boy had been placed in four foster homes and four state institutions in the last six years.
TCS also offers foster care to the emotionally disturbed, the mentally ill, and the elderly. Whitaker said those who become foster parents for this type of person usually have specialized in that field and have gone on many hours of training and much experience.
"When you're dealing with a child with special needs, a specialty type of foster parent is needed. Whitaker said, "You need a special care for the parent a person must have 400 hours of training—100 of which is in a specialty field—and two years of experience as a foster parent."
THOSE INTERESTED in profiling foster homes for the troubled adolescent, the neglected or the abused child are normally placed under SRS. Here, the foster family may keep the child from a few days to several years, depending on individual
circumstances. In some cases, adoption of the child can occur.
To become an SRS foster parent, a person first must pass certain licensing requirements of the office. Some services from the office offer the offender a department visit the person's home to ensure health care requirements. Third, he must undergo training.
She said that a foster parent must be more than simply an effective parent. He must not only provide the child with a place to live but help him cope with the outside world, as well.
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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15
1:00 - 1:30 Forum Room, Kansas Union ***Program Overview featuring Julie Gordon,
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7:00 - 10:00 Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union ***"Guerilla Tactics on the Job Market"* featuring Tom Jackson, president of Employment Research Associates, Wall Street, New York. Author of "The Hidden Job Market" and "28 Days to a Better Job". "Guerilla Tactics on the Job Market" was produced by Jackson under a federal contract to help train workers in job finding techniques. Tom Jackson has a reputation of being spirited, innovative and substantive in helping design employment programs to assist students and professionals in developing their own job finding skills.
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Remember its free and sponsored by SUA Forums, Dean of Womens Office, University Placement, Student Senate, University Counseling Center and the Career Counseling Resource Center.
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