Lindsey Betterman, the foster parent recruiter for Wesley House joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about being a foster parent.
The mission of Wesley House is to promote and enhance the safety, well being and development of children by educating, supporting and meeting the needs of families.
Betterman said, “We have a wide variety of programs, anywhere from Inez Martin, who does daycare and VPK services. We have a Healthy Families program that works with new parents from birth to age five, helping them learn how to become parents, and providing them with some additional resources as well. We work with the Department of Children and Families for when families come to their attention. We work in a variety of ways there. So we have a preventions program. Children are always best being raised by their parents whenever possible. So that’s what the Prevention Team attempts to do, is to put everything in place so children do not have to be removed from their parents’ care. If they do have to be removed, we have a case management team that works with the family to get them the services that they need so that children can be safely reunified with their family and if that’s not possible, we have adoption services as well. I work with foster parents. So we have several foster homes in the Keys, and for those children, when they unfortunately, have to be removed so that hopefully they can at least stay in their community.”
There is an ongoing need for foster parents.
Betterman said, “We face the same challenges that just many of the families here face. We don’t have large homes. It’s hard to find homes that are big enough to accommodate sibling groups, especially if people are raising their own children, that can be challenging, the prices of rent and just the transient kind of lifestyle that many of our families here are. How many homes are owned by snowbirds or visitors? So it’s a challenge.”
Sometime children do need to be removed from the home.
Betterman said, “It’s unfortunate. We do everything we can, like I said, to keep those children, at least in the same community, going to schools so they can continue with their same friends. I like to remind people, you get used to living down here, but can you imagine just having to leave everything and move to Miami with a couple of hours and make that work? And especially if you’re a child. It’s tough.”
Foster parents require a license.
Betterman said, “We offer the pre-service training classes. Everything is free. We come out to your home after you’ve completed the training, and we just make sure, basically, it just needs to be safe. We do all of background screens, again, we have to make sure everything is safe. It really only takes a few months, if you’re ready for it We go about as fast as people go themselves, but it doesn’t take too long.”
What kind of skills are good for being a foster parent?
Betterman said, “Honestly, just the dedication to helping these kids. That’s the best thing. You don’t have to be a super person or someone incredible to do this. You just have to have it in your heart to want to help the kids and be there for them. That’s really all it takes.”
Wesley House also provides independent living courses for two different stages of the foster child’s life that help them through this transition.
Betterman said, “Foster parents are provided a board rate and additional assistance if they want to sign children up for classes. We do have the independent living program that will work with you very closely to make sure that children are learning the skills that they’re going to need to know when they leave foster care, or even if they are reunified with their parents when they turn 18. They help them set up bank accounts, help them learn to to drive. Help them learn all the different skills, cooking and doing laundry, all of those things that kids have to learn when they turn 18.”
The Share the Love Auction from February 4 through 14 will help Wesley House.
Betterman said, “All of those proceeds go to helping children in care and our programs.”
A black tie affair will be held in Key Largo on February 8.
Betterman said, “Is just a night of elegance, and a nice, beautiful evening. We just really appreciate the community support. These children and these families need all the help that they can get. It it does take a village, and we appreciate everyone being a part of our village.”
For more information, click here: https://www.wesleyhouse.org/