#okdhs

By: Julia Jernigan, CCC Program Coordinator

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”-Mahatma Gandhi

     In the month of May we are celebrating many things.  The weather is a little warmer which allows us to go outside and spend more time with the ones we love. However, this is not the case for those that are not able to be with their families. May is Foster Care Awareness Month and we would like to share with you what being in foster care means.

     Children come into custody of the state for abuse, neglect and abandonment. These children come from all different backgrounds and experiences, and are often part of a sibling group. More than half of the children will be reunified with their biological families and the rest will become available for adoption.  More than 87% of children adopted are adopted by the foster family they were living with. 

     Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) statistics show that as of February 2013 there were more than 10,000 children and young adults in the foster care system in Oklahoma. Most of these children are under the age of five and are located in Oklahoma County.  These numbers alone indicate how great the need is for children in foster care.

     Being in foster care can mean living in a home with a family or living in a temporary shelter or group home setting.  When possible OKDHS strives to place children with a family member the child already knows, these placements are called kinship.  These families do not seek out to be foster parents, but are approached because they know the children.

     Often though, this puts a financial strain on a family that has not had time to plan for additional children in the home, as OKDHS currently only reimburses foster families approximately 40% of what it takes to raise a child. Citizens Caring for Children’s (CCC) Resource Center gives those who are considering the task of becoming a foster parent hope because there are real and tangible resources available to relieve their financial burden.

There are a few ways you can help out:

Volunteer: There are many opportunities to volunteer either at our Resource Center, Santa Stop, Back to School or other events. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete our Volunteer Form and return via email to Hillary Winn or fax to (405) 753-4095 and someone will contact you regarding opportunities available that match your interests.

Mentor: A mentor is someone that provides a positive stable relationship for a child who is in foster care by making a yearlong commitment to spend time with the child each month. For more information visit our Mentor page. 

Donate/ Host a Drive: In 2012, CCC provided more than 4,000 children and young adults in foster care NEW clothing each season and during the Back to School event, completely free of charge. If you are interested in donating or hosting a drive please contact Sandy Thomas, Resource Center Manager, or view our wish list for more information.