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Show A12 AROUNDlDAVIS CLIPPER TODAY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1999 Foster parent dropout rate very high across tlhie state BY TOM BUSSELBERG Clipper Today News Editor There are more than 2,000 children in foster care homes across the state. However, the foster care attrition rate in Utah and nationally is about 50 percent. Thats one reason behind the Utah Foster Care Foundations goal of 3,000 families by the end of 2,000. Thats our benchmark by the end of the year, says Brian McGuire, Northern Utah director for the foundation that recruits and trains foster care parents and volunteers. Were also set for 5,000 volunteers within the next five years, all aimed at helping children in foster care and the foster parents. One of the charges we have as a Foundation is to do a better job of retention, McGuire says. In some ways it's explainable why people dont remain as foster parents. Some (children) are kinship placements where they (kids) needed to be placed with family, and sometimes people go into the foster care arena with the specific goal to adopt a child. When their goals are met, its understandable they wouldn't relicense, he continued, noting, however, that the Foundation and Division of Child and Family Services, which places and administers the program, would like to use some of these former foster parents as resource points. They could maybe do some mentoring, training, offer a brief respite if it's possible for foster families that could use a day off or have an opportunity to take care of some other business, to help them out. And even for those foster par- ents who have adopted, McGuire said it would be helpful at times to have some network in place to better deal with some of the issues that might crop up six months to a year down the road. There are some normal progressions of children in adoptive .QGQEN non-prof- . 1 it post-adopti- placement where things might seem honky dory at adoption time, but down the road there might be some issues that are significant where the adoptive parent could use a resource. He added that its also hoped that supportive groups can be set up for foster parents, an outlet to talk to in case they have some issues that are difficult to handle on their own. Touching on DCFS, and the bad rap it sometimes takes in the media and elsewhere, McGuire said having worked for them for 10 years, I am always amazed at the good, hard work and the levels of professionalism their workers have. That is a very difficult job to be a case worker. In the rigors of todays world, there are so many compliance pieces to a particular foster care case that each worker has to do, over 200 in a case from placement to adoption, the workers carry a very rigorous caseload, running from sunup to sundown. Karen Wilcox, volunteer proand Brenda gram manager, Durtschi, area recruiter, emphasize that being a foster parent is probably one of the most challenging things you'll ever do. The reason DCFS employees and the foster parents are doing this is because they love children, they want to help theyre doing the best they can, Wilcox said. But to help, volunteers are currently being trained, with a Bountiful session just completed and Ogden now underway. Classes are ongoing through December, with new classes beginning in January in Clearfield. Training is also available for volunteers, similar to training other agencies request of their volunteers, Wilcox said. We need to find and recruit stable, willing individuals and families who will nurture and guide children in need, educate prospective foster families with current parenting strategies and support materials, and provide an honest picture of foster parenting. In Utah, child abuse and neglect has increased dramatically in the last 15 to 20 years, with children in state custody (foster care) and only 1,047 approxi-mately2,3- But Roger Martin, who oversees the facility at 1449 N. Angel (1200 West), here, says even as current supplies are temporarily up, demand has also increased significantly. In October and November we served ovex. 3,000 people. We gave out over 200 Thanksgiving food boxes, he said. It will slow down after the first of the year, but not a whole lot. By comparison, the food bank has been serving about 500 people per month, meaning demand has tripled. More people know were there. This time of year we always pick up a age and gender of children they desire, with the average length of stay for foster children between nine and 12 months. Officials hope that they can obtain a surplus of foster parents in order to provide a pool to more adequately provide for proper matches between children and ter parents, they added. For more information call fos392-111- or Meals Large Variety Stores up to 15 Years Great Taste Low Cost Satisfaction Guaranteed This 40 Day Kit f . prepares three well balanced meals per day with over 1800 calories, easy to follow instructions on each can with complete nutrituional information. All products carry a satisfaction guarantee. & cOiicstery GMer . $H SDSl BOUNTIFUL RIVES IF AV Food Bank demand for service rises significantly LAYTON If you gave canned goods as part of the recent Boy Scout Food Drive, thank you. If you're sharing in other ways, thanks again. foster families. That situation is even worse in the Salt Lake area, where there are 360 foster families and 1,300 children in need, Foster Care of Utah officials note. Foster parents can indicate the rr'Tt.r. (801) Fax: (801) 295-299- 2 379 W. 500 S. i 295-464- 7 Bountiful, Utah 84010 rr ,rrr 2. lot of people that normally wouldnt be in, he noted. We give food to anybody they have to be Davis County residents, have to show proof of residency. Otherwise we get people who are just trying to cruise through, Martin said. Sr ? The interest rate on our Home Equity Credit Line As for the recently received food, he said much of it was still in boxes, waiting to be sorted. Upward of 1,000 lbs. was received from the recent holiday food drive. We do have a place for it, and as much as were moving in, it will probably all be out the dooij providing support for needy families, he added. The food bank is open weekdays from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. For more information call may have you thinking Santa Claus 444-269- 1. Lease agreement approved running the bank. id LAYTON Hie city and AT&T Wireless should both benefit from a lease agreement on a site near one of the citys fire stations. The agreement is for a cellular tower at 2701 N. Church, adjacent to fire station No. 2. 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