VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Foster care concerns are carrying over into the new year with nearly 1,000 children and teens still in need of a home in the Tidewater area.
UMFS Family Systems Coordinator Shauna Carey told 10 On Your Side that the nonprofit organization has seen a 40% decrease in foster care parent inquires throughout the Tidewater region, with UMFS approving as little as four families in the last 6 months.
“We just don’t have enough families who believe they can do it,” she said.
Inquiring foster parents are typically apprehensive about caring for a teen and often feel their pocketbooks may not measure up, but a six-figure income is not required. And some who take on the responsibility of fostering only make about $50,000 per year.
“So I’ve worked in foster care for a long time, and there’s always been a big need,” Carey said. “But there has definitely been a decline. The number gets smaller and smaller. I think people have this idea in their head, or like, they need to be this perfect little family. But the reality is that we just need families who can provide a safe and stable environment.”
The nonprofit is among organizations that offer state-funded financial assistance to help foster parents. UMFS is hoping to reach a goal of approving 12 families by the end of the fiscal year in June.