Open Your Heart & Home to a Child in Need: Become a Foster Parent

May is National Foster Care Month, a time to raise awareness of the challenges faced by children who have experienced abuse or neglect and have been removed from their homes and placed into foster care as a result. It also marks a time to celebrate the contributions of the many professionals and organizations working to make a positive difference for youth who are living in these circumstances.

One such organization is The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region (The Arc NCR). Through their Treatment Foster Care (TFC) program, they’re not only caring for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect – they’re on the front lines of caring for those in the community who have been diagnosed with emotional/behavioral disorders, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who require a sophisticated level of care to thrive.

As a whole, according to The Children’s Bureau, in 2018, nearly 690,000 children spent time in the United States’ foster care system. And, on any given day throughout 2019, there were upwards of 437,000 children languishing in care, waiting to be placed in safe, stable environments to grow and flourish. According to the American Society for the Positive Care of Children, experiencing foster care has significant short and long-term affects on children and youth that affect all facets of their lives. These dynamics impact their education, physical and mental health, ability to form quality, meaningful relationships, as well as their ability to become financially independent in life. Under normal circumstances, it is no secret that life can be tough for children and youth. But, when abuse or neglect is part of their lives and they are placed into foster care, the normal winds of chaos become a storm.

The Arc NCR’s Treatment Foster Care Program Director, Steven Acerno, and his team of three licensed, highly-qualified and trained social workers, a foster parent recruiter and administrative assistant, make a significant difference for these children by providing them 1:1 case management services tailored to their specific needs, and also working to place them in safe, loving foster homes in which to thrive. But there-in lies the problem.

“As the only program in Harford County licensed to provide Treatment Foster Care services to those most vulnerable, we have the capacity to serve up to 36 children,” says Acerno. “But, because the number of foster homes in our area is limited, we have to turn away upwards of 20 children each month who need our help.”

The role foster parents play in making a profound impact on children experiencing foster care is critical – and research shows that when placed in a nurturing, stable environment, these children are significantly more likely to experience positive outcomes that span all facets of their lives. One long-term foster parent for The Arc NCR, Ms. Marquita King, who has cared for numerous children, shares her recount of the experience in this video.

Treatment foster parenting is challenging, but also extremely rewarding, according to Acerno.

“Outside of the basic requirements like having reliable transportation and stable housing, prospective foster parents have to undergo background checks and complete a home study process, which helps ensure the best possible match is made between the foster home and child,” he says. “For those looking to answer the call, I assure you won’t regret it. The opportunity to change a child’s life forever by being a positive influence is one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can have.”

The Arc NCR’s TFC program also serves medically-fragile children – those who, as a result of abuse or neglect, require foster parents willing to assist with specialized services like feeding, tracheotomy care, multiple medical appointments, or utilization of a wheelchair for mobility. Additionally, the program is qualified to support foster parents willing to open their hearts and homes to teenagers who are currently pregnant or who recently became new mothers.

To learn more about The Arc NCR’s TFC program and how fostering a child can make a long-lasting difference, visit The Arc’s website at www.arcncr.org, or contact Steven Acerno at SAcerno@arcncr.org or 410-836-7177 ext. 366.

This post is an advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local sponsor. The views expressed in this post are the author's own.

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