What about the children?

Every day there is a child in S.C. taken into foster care.

There are nearly 40 children in state custody and placed in foster care in Newberry.

These children need you to be their voice. One way you can be a voice for a child is by becoming a resource foster parent. What does this mean?

The term resource family refers to families that provide temporary care to children in foster care that preserve and support family connections which is critical to ensuring and enhancing the safety, permanency and well being of children involved in the child welfare system.

Resource foster families have the opportunity to work more with the birth families when appropriate and act as a team member and give children a voice.

Resource families are more involved compared to the traditional role of foster parents.

This involvement helps to increase the ability of families to stay intact and connections with biological families to not be broken, also children returning to their birth families.

There is a need for more families in Newberry to consider if becoming a Resource Foster Family for a child in need is something that would work in their homes.

There are less than 15 licensed homes currently in Newberry to serve the nearly 40 children in foster care there.

The S.C. Youth Advocate Program (SCYAP)-Resource Family Program has partnered with the S.C. Department of Social Services to recruit, license, retain and support resource foster homes in 10 Upstate Counties, including Newberry.

If you are interested knowing more and would like to make a difference in the life of a child by becoming a resource foster family contact SCYAP at 864-312-6700 or 1-888-413-2588.

You can also contact SCYAP if you are interested in a staff person coming to your church, school or civic group to provide a information session about foster care and how to get started in the process. Be a child’s voice, make a difference, become a resource.

Betsy Manning

S.C. Youth Advocate Program (SCYAP)