Hero
Calling all heroes. We need your help to bring Marin’s foster children back to our community. Sadly, many of our most vulnerable youth are uprooted and placed in care outside of the county, sometimes even several hundred miles away, all because of a shortage of foster parents here. You could make a profound difference in a young person’s life by opening your heart and home to one of these children.
At any given time, Marin averages 80 kids in the foster-care system. Right now, 23 youngsters live outside our area and 19 are girls. In fact, teenage girls are five times more likely to end up placed outside of the county than other children.
The Marin County Recruitment Collaborative and Marin Health and Human Services (HHS) stress the importance of bringing these youngsters back to the county while their biological families work toward reuniting. These children come into the foster-care system through no fault of their own.
“They all need and deserve a safe, loving and consistent place to live where they can thrive and mature,” says Marin HHS child welfare worker Leslie Fields.
Fostering a child allows you to share your unique skills and interest with a child. The experience will change a kid’s life, as well as your own.
To learn more about the foster program, join Marin HHS at an upcoming monthly orientation. The next session takes place on Thursday, Jan. 17, from 7–8:30pm, at the Marin Health and Wellness Campus, 3250 Kerner Boulevard, Room 107, in San Rafael.
A social worker and an experienced foster parent facilitate the meeting and discuss the application process, required training and available support. Visit fosterourfuturemarin.org or call 415.473.2200 for additional orientation dates and information.
Got a Hero or a Zero? Please send submissions to [email protected]. Toss roses, hurl stones with more Heroes and Zeroes at pacificsun.com.
.Hero & Zero
