Children in Crisis looking for foster parents to care for abused, neglected children
NICEVILLE — Imagine … it’s 2 a.m. when police officers arrive at your house to remove you and your brothers and sisters from your parents. A stranger takes you and one sibling to a new home, and the other two siblings to a different home.
Though you are now safe, your young mind mostly only registers that you are in an unfamiliar place, in the middle of the night, now without two of the siblings you rely on to help you feel safe. You are disoriented, you are confused, and you are afraid.
The Children’s Neighborhood provides homes and care for the abused, neglected, and abandoned children in Okaloosa, Walton, Escambia, and Santa Rosa counties. Since opening the Susanna Wesley Emergency Shelter and the first family foster home (Blessings House) in 2008, CIC has given a home and loving care to over 1,000 foster children. The neighborhood homes are designed with the vision of keeping siblings together.
"Do you have a heart for foster children? Our greatest need at this time is foster parents to live in our homes and care for the children. We want you to come and be a foster parent at The Children’s Neighborhood," a CIC spokesperson said.
"We will license and train you to care for the children, and come alongside you to provide an array of support including: a large, beautiful home, guidance, on-site educational assistance, vehicles for transporting children, access to our Kay’s Cupboard food and clothing pantry, and a monthly stipend to supplement family income."
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In return, foster parents will experience the rewards that come with knowing they have made a difference in the lives of these children, children who need a parent to restore their hope, facilitate healing of their wounded hearts, and assist their development into resilient, happy, capable young people.
Those who feel their hearts being tugged for this journey may contact CIC Director of Operations Sarah Traver (850-864-4242 or sarahtraver@childrenincrisisfl.org) to learn more.
CIC invites potential foster parents to view a video and complete the Foster Parent Application on our website www.childrenincrisisfl.org. Will you answer the call? If not you, then who?
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Foster parents wanted: Children in Crisis looks for caretakers for endangered children
