Governor Matt Bevin and First Lady Glenna Bevin are seeking partnerships with churches and faith-based agencies to help combat child abuse and serve the record all-time high 8,375 children in the Kentucky out-of-home foster care system.
“Open Heart/Open Home” is the new initiative by Governor and First Lady Bevin. With nine children themselves-four of whom joined their family through adoption-they know firsthand the needs of children. They are leading by example and imploring the church community in the great state of Kentucky to help find more foster and adoptive families.
On Sunday, DCCH will hold a session from 1-3 p.m. for those who would like to know more about adoption or fostering.
In a one-year period-from February 2016 to the following year-the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services investigated 54,582 reports of neglect or abuse. Out of those investigations, 12,976 resulted in findings of substantiated abuse or neglect. This ultimately has led to a record number of children in out-of-home care.
Exactly 6,507 children were in foster homes around the state at the end of April 2017.
Approximately 6,000 more children are in “kinship care” with extended family members. Some will return to their parents if the parents can successfully resolve their issues and provide a stable home. Unfortunately, however, 2,360 children won’t have that opportunity. These children long for a “forever home” and need a loving adoptive family. Within that group, 1,228 are available for adoption.
DCCH Center for Children and Families, Ft. Mitchell, recently their amazing foster parents with an appreciation dinner, held at the Gardens of Park Hills.
Donna Bloemer, Attorney at Law, Guardian ad Litem and DCCH Center Board Member was the keynote speaker, where she spoke of gratitude for the work foster parents do. She is appreciative that when she has to advocate and write her own recommendations to the Judge for a child to be placed in foster care, that she can count on families such as these at DCCH, are able and willing to help care for the children.
Therapeutic Foster Care Case managers, Jessica Postel, Lydia Wall, Mel Shannon, Tasha Heisel and Sarah McAdams presented certificates of appreciation to their clients. Thirty-two families were honored who are now serving the 52 children through DCCH foster care program. Eight families were recognized for being newly approved and awaiting the next placement. Eleven families were recognized for being respite providers.
Since the Adoption program began in 2003, DCCH is proud to proclaim 89 children have finalized their adoptions through DCCH families.
The foster children in the state of Kentucky are in need of trusting adults to take the next step and become foster or adoptive parents. For more information visit: www.DCCHCenter.org or contact Ron Bertsch at RBertsch@DCCHCenter.org.
