Lions Learn About Foster Care

Fairfax Lions dinner meeting program on Jan 19 was about Foster Care.

Our speakers were Ms Melissa Tatlor, and Ms Jacyln Arenas of First Home Care.  They are dedicated to providing therapeutic foster care services and adoption services to children who need placement out of their homes into stable, supportive, and nurturing environments.

We learned there are about 250 foster children in Fairfax County, and about 5000 in VA.  The children come from a diverse background and have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Being removed from their home creates a sense of loss, confusion, and is overall a traumatic experience. They are in dire need of a trusting, stable and nurturing home in order to heal from the trauma and build a brighter future.

Who can be a therapeutic foster or adoptive parent? To be considered eligible to become a therapeutic foster parent, a person must be: An adult, age 21 years or older; A resident of Virginia; Financially stable; Able to provide adequate living space for a child; Able to pass child abuse and criminal history clearance; Available to attend all required training; and Willing to learn to work with children who have emotional and behavioral challenges.

For more information http://www.firsthomecare.com/