As part of its ongoing effort to connect the community with local nonprofit organizations, United Way of Southeast Arkansas recently hosted representatives from Arkansas Baptist Children’s and Family Ministries to discuss the growing need for foster families throughout the state.
The organization, which partners with United Way, provides foster care, adoption services and counseling programs designed to support children and families during times of crisis. Officials say community involvement and financial support through organizations such as United Way help make those services possible.
Representatives of Arkansas Baptist Children’s and Family Ministries are encouraging more families to consider foster care as the state continues to face a need for additional foster homes.
During an appearance on Deltaplex Radio, Tanya Larmoyeux of Arkansas Baptist Children’s and Family Ministries discussed the organization’s foster care program, which operates through Connected Families, a private Christian foster care and adoption agency that works in partnership with the State of Arkansas.
Larmoyeux said foster families are recruited primarily through churches and faith-based communities. She noted that foster parents are encouraged to have a church support system that can help provide stability and encouragement for both children and caregivers.
She explained that children enter foster care when their safety has been compromised and that agencies work to keep siblings together whenever possible to minimize additional trauma.
Larmoyeux acknowledged that many families hesitate to become foster parents because of the emotional challenges involved. However, she emphasized that the goal of foster care is often reunification, with many children eventually returning to their biological families after parents address the issues that led to removal.
According toLarmoyeux, Arkansas currently has approximately 3,400 children in foster care and about 1,800 foster families statewide. Many of those placements involve relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers or other adults who already have a connection to the child.
For individuals interested in becoming foster parents, respite providers or learning more about the process, Larmoyeux said information is available through Arkansas Baptist Children’s and Family Ministries’ website. She said the licensing process includes training, background checks and home evaluations, with some homes becoming licensed in as little as 60 to 90 days.
The ministry is funded through a combination of private donations, church support, grants and state contracts. Representatives said community members who are unable to foster can still support the mission through financial contributions or volunteer efforts.
More information about foster care, adoption services and opportunities to support the organization can be found through Arkansas Baptist Children’s and Family Ministries.
