Groups unite to focus on foster care crisis

Global Impact, No More Foundation and Restoration Rome volunteers will kick off a new program Sunday.

Leaders of the No More Foundation will join with Global Impact and Restoration Rome volunteers Sunday night to kick off a campaign to draw further attention to the foster care crisis in Rome and Floyd County.

Jaime and Tami Kent, of Tampa, Florida, who started the foundation, will conduct an interactive program beginning at 5 p.m. at the former Southeast Elementary School on Crane Street.

“This is the seventh event in five years,” Tami Kent said. “We typically have 20-25 percent of the people who come to these events plug in and engage directly into meeting the need to care for the atrisk children within the community.”

Kent said the mission of the No More Foundation is to educate, empower and mobilize communities to address children’s needs.

Floyd County has more than 400 children in foster care, many of them living in communities all over the state.

“It’s hard for somebody to grasp that each one is an individual, unique and gifted, deserving of love,” Kent said.

The meeting Sunday night will give Romans an idea of how they can become tangibly involved in meeting the myriad of needs.

Kent said people who are interested in becoming foster families are encouraged to attend the event Sunday night. She said children and teenagers are also invited to attend.

Mary Margaret Mauer, with Global Impact, said that at least 16 churches and as many as 300 concerned people are already expected to attend.

“Everyone has a role to play,” Kent said. “Maybe someone who is retired is in a position where they could meet once a week to help tutor a student. It could be you’ve got a young mom …. who could help make a meal to be delivered to a foster family that has taken a foster child in,” Kent said.

Jeff Mauer, a leader with Global Impact, which leases the old Southeast Elementary School to serve as a hub

for agencies trying to combat the foster care crisis, said those who at-

tend the event Sunday will talk about the issues and do some brainstorming.

“We’re not putting a finishing time on it so that everybody can get whatever information they need,” Mauer said.

‘Everyone has a role to play.’ Tami Kent No More Foundation