It's Not What You Know, Its Who You Know

From Ben Umbel, Every Child Director Polk County

One of the many reasons I love being a part of Every Child is building community partnerships to help support children and families impacted by the foster care system. Through these partnerships, we can isolate specific needs and find individuals, groups, or businesses with the skills and resources to meet them.

ODHS recently made us aware of the need for specific recruitment for culturally appropriate resource homes (previously known as “foster” homes). Specifically for children and teens of the Latino and LGBTQ communities and for those children who are medically fragile or need a higher level of trauma-informed care. It is critical for children being placed into foster care to be in a home where they can feel understood and cared for in a culturally appropriate way.

We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Odilon Campos, Polk County Program Director of Oregon Child Development Coalition, to host our very first

Hispanic Explore Fostering event for the Latino community.

In May, we will gather together for a meal and listen to a panel consisting of experienced resource parents and ODHS staff to share the very real “ins and outs” of being a resource family. And…it will all be in Spanish!

We are so thankful for the many ways people are stepping up to help children in foster care and their families. And we are very grateful for the partnerships that we have been building along the way. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families in our community.

#everychildyamhill #everychildpolk #thisisfostercare #communitysupport #fostering #fostercare