Foster care stands to lose in state budget

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Foster care stands to lose in state budget

By Jeremiah Jacobsen

LEE COUNTY - The future for thousands of abused and neglected children in Florida could rest with Governor Charlie Crist. Foster care agencies say they're worried about the impact of deep cuts in the state budget, which could come up for a vote this week.

"We started with the intention of just fostering," said parent Bryant King.

Foster care quickly became permanent parenting for Bryant and Sherry King. 15 foster children have come through their home since 2004; two are now their adopted daughters. But even their loving home can't house all of the kids in need.

"We've had to say no to children that have been offered to our home just because we know our limitations. But there are more children than we can personally help," King said.

The Children's Network of Southwest Florida says it finds care for nearly 1,900 children a month; many of them abused or neglected.

"Our main goal is to return the children to their biological parents safely," said Children's Network CEO Nadereh Salim. "And in order to do that, we need to have the services to teach these parents how to be safe parents.

But Salim says the current state budget would make that difficult. The five-county service agency stands to lose a million dollars in funding; including money for services like parenting classes, to help biological parents bring their kids home.

Money also would be cut from adoption subsidies. The Children's Network worries that could discourage people from becoming adoptive parents like the kings.

"We're so blessed to have our two, soon to be three adopted children," King said.

The Children's Network says they've delivered petitions to state lawmakers, and had letters sent from foster parents. But with the budget up for approval this week, they say their last hope lies in some kind of action-- like a veto-- from Governor Crist.

Tuesday, Apr 29 at 1:00 PM Vstil wrote ...

Online training - it's effective, economical and available. No computer? Try a library or a computer at a DCF office. For $8 at FosterParentCollege.com you can give someone parenting techniques to work with specific behavioral problems in just a couple of hours. That's like Dr. DeLaney working for $4 an hour to help foster parents with their toughest tasks - being a foster parent. Integrate technology for efficiency, effectiveness and economical solutions. Technology can be a solution.

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