In 2022 we received 3,108 referrals at our agency alone. In the state of South Carolina there are currently 3,687 kids in care.
I receive calls on a nightly basis for kids needing a bed to rest their heads. Our program currently has every available bed filled. When placement is unable to identify a bed for a child the child will end up spending the night on a couch in the office of Child Services. These are kids who are experiencing immense pain and trauma being removed from their family, friends, schools and all familiar surroundings at no fault to themselves.
Our Resource Family program recruits, trains and supports foster families in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, Hampton and Allendale free of charge. We currently have 18 licensed foster families and are looking for people willing to open their home to a child or sibling group who is in need of love, patience support and structure. As you can imagine kids in care come with trauma, however I see firsthand the impact a foster parent has on the lives of a child needing a home.
I’ve had a front row seat for some incredible happy endings. We’ve had foster parents build encouraging supportive relationships with biological parents. Cheering them on in their recovery journey whether that’s providing a facetime with their child, sending hand drawn pictures or an extra in person visit. My favorite moments have been watching a foster placement needing a forever home turn into an adoptive placement. One story in particular will always stick with me-it actually took place right here in Bluffton-we had two teenage brothers that came to us after a pre-adoptive foster home had fallen through, at no fault to them. They arrived in our program and the entire staff fell in love with them. They didn’t ask for shoes, a cell phone, clothes; instead, they asked for help finding a job. They wanted to work and make their own money. We identified a couple, The Allen Family, who had a heart for teen boys and began the process of fostering them. I can proudly say as of March there are two more kids that have officially been added to the Allen family. They are thriving, connected to the community, and loved beyond means. Currently straight A students, high school athletes and maintaining full time jobs during the summer.
If you don’t feel called to foster there are so many incredible ways to help kids in care and support foster families. We’re always accepting donations of clothing and toys for kids who are placed into care with nothing. We run a Christmas Wish angel tree program where kids amongst all of child services agencies in our counties and surrounding receive a box full of their Christmas “wishes” to open on Christmas morning. Becoming a designated babysitter for a foster family or dropping off a warm meal are fantastic ways to support fostering families in our community.
Megan Buss, Resource Family Case Manager
Child Abuse Prevention Association CAPA
843-524-4350
http://www.CAPABeaufort.org
Kids@CAPABeaufort.org
714 14th Street, Port Royal, SC 29935
WHHI Daily News Anchor: Betsy McDaniel
July 2023
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