Within the Castle Country, there has been a sharp decline in foster families of nearly 50% while children in need of these families have stayed the same. This has created a massive need for families to participate in the program. To help educate families on the foster care system, Utah Foster Care is hosting an “Ask a Foster Parent” event, which will teach potential foster parents about the reunification process.

Castle Country Radio was joined by lead foster adoption consultant Kobi Prettyman to speak on the event and the need for foster families.

“ More often than not, I hear statements from people saying, ‘ I could never get attached to a child and then send them back home,’ or, ‘ I don’t know what it’s like to be working with the families of the children that come into foster care,’” explained Prettyman. “And so this event speaks to those two concerns or questions or thoughts from people to talk about what it’s like to get attached and then have a child go home. What things can you do to make that easier for everyone involved? And then what it’s like to work with the families that are working on the things that they need to do to improve, to get the children back in their home, what it’s like to have that interaction and work with them.”

The set up of the event will be a conversation between Prettyman and a current foster parent working to answer questions of attendees. “They will have the ability to ask questions and we’ll address them as we find them in the chats and things like that because it is an online event.”

Prettyman then took the time to discuss the importance of foster care in a rural area like the Castle Country,” when we don’t have enough families in our area, then children are moved out of our area, which makes returning home to their families much more difficult because they can’t see them as often. It’s harder for the kids to get there for visits and all the things that need to happen is just much more difficult.” Prettyman added,” Besides the fact that it causes a lot more trauma for the children if they have to be moved out of the area, they’re moved away from friends and their community and maybe other supports, teachers and things like that, that might be a support to them.”

In closing, Prettyman shared,” If you’ve ever had questions, thoughts, concerns, I would love for you to reach out and find out more. And just because they have a conversation with me doesn’t mean that they’re committed. We’re doing some new things to try to get support for foster families. So maybe fostering is not for them right now, but maybe they could volunteer or support another foster family. We’re wanting to start programs like that in our area.”

Utah Foster Care’s “Ask a Foster Parent” event will be held online on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. To register, click here.