Kansas children come to foster care from all walks of life and from every community. Often, they come frightened, confused, angry, neglected or abused, and lacking trust in their family setting. That’s how they come…it’s not how they stay. Resource parents help children heal, trust and hope.
Resource Parents: Resource parents are quality, caring adults who provide foster care to children and teens in need. They don’t have to be wealthy, live in a big house or be married. What is essential is that they have room in their homes and hearts for children in need of a safe place to heal.
The Preparation: Prospective resource parents complete a free training called Permanency & Safety-Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (PS-MAPP). Classes meet once a week, for ten weeks and are offered on a regular basis throughout Kansas. Potential resource parents then make informed decisions about fostering, including what type of child they will foster.
The Children: Like resource parents, foster children vary. They range in ages from birth to 18, and in some cases 21. Most enter foster care due to abuse or neglect, while others exhibit behavior disorders. Currently there are many teens and children with special behavioral, education or medical needs in need of resource families.
The Support: Saint Francis provides ongoing support and guidance for its resource families. Monthly support meetings cover a wide variety of topics, and foster care workers provide one-on-one support, including a 24-hour crisis service. Community services are also utilized.
Testimonial: Mike and Kathy (resource parents) “We love what we’re doing. If we can make a difference in a child’s life, or a family’s life – well, that’s just so much the better.”
To learn more or to become part of a professional
team caring for Kansas children, contact:
866-999-1599 (toll free)
Saint Francis Community Services, Incorporated A donor-supported child welfare ministry embracing the Episcopal tradition of service since 1945
