May is National Foster Care month and the local organization is always looking for families to take in children who have been placed in foster care. Area Representative, Kobi Prettyman was able to stop by Castle Country Radio to talk all things foster care.

“The need for foster families runs throughout the year so its not just one month that we need families. However, this is National Foster Care and so we take the opportunity this month to get information out to people about foster care and what it’s like, the needs of it, the rewards, the challenges, and all those sorts of things. So, we really just try to get a bunch of information into people’s hands, minds, hearts and get them thinking about foster care,” stated Prettyman. The organization has seen a lack of interest in our area of people wanting to become foster parents. They hope by speaking about the foster care program it will help folks to better understand the need.

“Specifically, right now the need has been greater than it has been in the recent past. We’d like people to be aware we need people to step forward and help the kids in our community that are having some difficulties in their families and experiencing some trauma and need a place to go while their parents are trying to remedy some of those situations,” said Prettyman. By becoming a foster parent, you are also sharing your strength, your home, and your future—making a commitment to help, heal, and enrich the lives of abused and neglected children.

There are many fears for potential foster parents/families and those fears can be eased by speaking with other foster families in the area. “There’s a lot of fears that people have, what are the kids like? Is a common fear. The feat of working with the families of the children – those are a lot of fears. Not that those are valid but I think as you get involved in the program you see the supports that are there for you and you’re able to meet the people, meet the children and get to know them, that really alleviates most of those fears,” said Prettyman.

To learn more about the Foster Care Program visit their website at https://utahfostercare.org/