(Audubon) There is an urgent need for Foster parents in western Iowa.
Teresa Kanning, a Support Case Worker Supervisor for Lutheran Services 0f Iowa, says several foster care families retired in the past couple of years. Kanning’s agency serves 30 counties in the western region of the state, and she says there is a need for foster parents in western Iowa. “It seems there is a lot more need for foster parents right now than in the past, and we have more teenagers coming into foster care,” said Kanning. “We’re looking for people willing to take some kids in this age group. We simply need foster parents.”
Kanning says statistics show children staying in their own community do much better. “The more families available in the local area, the better of the child is,” said Kanning.
In 2019, in the 30 counties in western Iowa, 778 times, officials referred a child to foster care.
People interested in filling the role as a foster parent should call or email Lutheran Services of Iowa to sign-up for orientation. The orientation talks about what it takes to become a foster parent; after that, they will attend a ten-week class and move forward with the process.
For more information visit: LSIowa.org/foster, call; 866-409-2351, or email danette.morgan@LSiowa.org.
A class will be held in the Audubon area on September 9, at 6:00 p.m., and in Council Bluffs, on August 12, at 6:00 p.m.
