Special Advocates To Support White, Van Buren Fosters
White and Van Buren Counties launching a new Court Appointed Special Advocates program to provide foster children with dedicated volunteers. General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge John Meadows said the non-profit organization recruits and trains community members to serve as representatives for children in state custody and represent their best interests throughout the legal process. […]
DeKalb Facing Shortage Of Foster Parents With New Coalition
DeKalb County is facing a critical shortage of local foster homes, with only three of the approximately 40 children currently in the foster care system placed within the county. Samantha Bowman is co-chair of the DeKalb County Foster Friendly Coalition, a new organization designed to help with the issue. Bowman said the coalition is working […]
DeKalb Hosting Foster Care Town Hall Meeting Saturday
A foster care town hall is set to take place in DeKalb County on Saturday as organizers work to connect the community with foster care resources and address a growing local need. The event will be held at Outreach Baptist Church and is designed to educate residents about foster care while offering ways for individuals, […]
Region Still Faces Shortage Of Needed Foster Parents
A local non-profit says the Upper Cumberland still faces a major shortage of foster parents, leaving many children in need of stable homes. Youth Villages Foster Parent Recruiter Jennifer Wessel said in Putnam County alone, about 65 percent of the children who come to Youth Villages have to be relocated outside of the county due […]
Butler’s Pilot Program Bill Aims To Streamline Foster Care
Representative Ed Butler sponsoring a new Foster Care Pilot Program Bill that would use private entities to streamline the state’s foster care process. Butler said the plan includes a five-year period of private agencies taking in 450 kids per year from the Department of Children’s Services. He said these agencies would assume all decision-making rights […]
UC Foster Closet Hosts Casino Night Fundraiser
The Upper Cumberland Foster Closet is hosting its first major fundraiser, “Chips for Charity,” a casino night at the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport on May 1st. UCFC is an organization which aids foster families and kinship families by providing them with free clothing and other necessities for children in custody, all donated by members in […]
