Lindsey Betterman, the foster parent licensing coordinator for Wesley House Family Services, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the organization.
Wesley House Family Services serves all of Monroe County.
Betterman said, “We do case plans and reunification home studies and case management for families whose children have been removed from them. But we also have a number of other services. We do have a daycare, Inez Martin. We have prevention services. We always try to keep children in the home before removal whenever possible. So that is kind of our first step. Then we also have a Healthy Families program that serves families with children zero to five. So it’s usually for, like, brand new parents. If this is your first time having a child, we can come in and help and assist and guide through that process. Then we have the other wraparound services, like adoption services and then what I do is foster care.”
Wesley House is looking for foster parents.
Betterman said, “We’re hoping to get about six more families by the end of our fiscal year, which will end next June. So we really do need some assistance from the community. These kids need you.”
Being able to keep children in the Keys is so important.
Betterman said, “We don’t want them to have to go to Miami Dade when they’ve already lost so much. I tell people really think about the cultural differences between us and Miami Dade. We are close. We do all use the mainland for reasons, but cultural wise, we are a completely different mindset. So these children will lose their parents, their pets, their homes, their schools, and then everything that makes up a community as well.”
Foster parents can help children of all ages.
Betterman aid, “We have a strong need for foster parents who will take in teenagers as well as sibling groups. I tell people all the time, our homes here are pretty small, so it is one of the reasons why it’s such a big need. But we really do need those two specific types of homes.”
The goal is to reunite the children with their families or find them a permanent home.
Betterman said, “The children in our care all have Medicaid so they are able to access medical services as they need, therapeutic services, and we also do support tutoring and braces and summer camps and all of these things that the kids need on a day to day basis.”
Independent living courses help the teen prepare for life ahead.
Betterman said, “We have a wonderful Independent Living Specialist who will work heavily with foster parents to make sure these teenagers learn how to live on their own. They’re learning all of these skills, from cooking to opening up a bank account, to driving a car and even doing laundry, all of those simple things, he will help you in teaching them.”
Foster parenting could be a good solution for empty nesters.
Betterman said, “Right now, about half of our homes, that is exactly what they are. They have the time and the willingness to continue to give back to the community. Everyone can do this.”
Even people who were never a parent, can still foster because Wesley House offers classes for preparation.
Betterman said, “We start off all of our foster parents start off taking the care class. That’s a class specifically to discuss how to care for these children. All of these children have experienced trauma on some level, so that’s what we review. Then, once children are placed in your home, you do get a board repayment to help assist you with covering food, electricity, water, clothing for them, making sure they can have an allowance, all of those normal things that all kids need. We also offer continuing support through case management, so all people really have to do is call and express a need and we will figure out a way to help. You’ve got to have a safe home, you’ve got to pass a background screening, and that’s really about it. We have more homes in the Lower Keys, but our population is also larger there. We have only one home in Marathon. So it’d be great to get some people in the Middle Keys as well, as in the Upper Keys too.”
The foster parent relationship with the child can be incredibly poignant.
Betterman aid, “I say it all the time, it’s, it’s one of those things, like, if you were watching a child take their first steps for the first time, in many scenarios that these kids experience, it’s the exact same feeling. So when you have worked with a child side by side and encouraged them, then they go out and make an A or they hit that home run, and that’s something new and something they’ve never experienced. It’s the exact same feeling, just total pride in that child, and then also with the parents, because we have foster parents who work directly with the biological parents as well, and when they succeed, it’s a good, great feeling. If you work with the biological parents, you can continue to remain in that child’s life forever. We’ve seen it happen. We’ve seen families do that, and it’s amazing. I also like to remind people that if you have created that bond where it is difficult, then you’ve done exactly what you needed to do for that child, because you are the person there to be that support system to bridge that gap until they can go home. So if you are that invested, then you’ve done your job correctly and it can be difficult. There’s no denying that, but it’s just because that difficulty is built out of love, and so we do strongly try to encourage people to continue to work for families. That way they can continue to be in that child’s life.”
For more information, click here: https://www.wesleyhouse.org/