County shows appreciation for foster parents
An annual ritual continues within Polk County to make sure that those who are opening their doors and hearts to children are getting the due thanks deserved them every day of the year.
During the May 7 session of the Polk County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commission Chair Jennifer Hulsey took time out at the opening of their regular meeting to bring together members of the Polk County Foster Parent Association and the Department of Family and Children Services in Polk and Haralson counties to celebrate foster parents during the month of May.
The commission voted unanimously to approve an annual proclamation that honors foster parents locally and across the country for their efforts to help children separated from their parents for a variety of reasons have a loving and structured home.
Local efforts to appreciate Foster Parents join those across the country for National Foster Care Month. The goal is to bring awareness to the growing number of children who enter care of the state via the Department of Family and Children Services, which locally was up to 122 children in state care around this time last year. Across the country, the total number was around 690,000 recorded in 2017.
Those interested in learning more about how to become a foster parent and give children can gather with others every second Tuesday night of each month at 6 p.m. at Polk County Division of Family and Children Services office, 100 County Loop Road in Cedartown.
Information sessions explain what is required to become a foster or adoptive parent in Georgia.
For more information please call Robin Forston at 404-895-6517 or email robin.forston@dhs.ga.gov or call 1-877-210-KIDS.
Visit www.fostergeorgia.com for more information overall on the system to gain a better grasp of what’s required before heading into meetings.
Cedartown’s Papa Johns also took part in an effort to show appreciation during Foster Parent Appreciation Month. In a weeklong effort to raise money and awareness for foster parents, they spent May 5 through May 11 collecting funds from their sales and giving back proceeds to the Polk County Foster Parent Association.