TUCKER, Ga. — Georgia is seeing a critical shortage of foster care parents, which has led to some children competing for homes. A metro Atlanta foster care organization reports it has almost quadrupled the number of people in its programs since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wellroot Family Services said it's seen interest in becoming a foster parent drop by about 50% since the pandemic. However, at the same time, the number of kids needing care hasn't changed. The foster care organization averages more than 4,000 calls a year.
It's the sound of the holiday season for foster families with Wellroot. They got to take in the joys of the holidays at a recent Christmas party.
“We also provide services to keep children and families from being separated and going into foster care, and on the opposite end of the continuum, we work with young people who are aging out of foster care, who need a home and support as they transition into young adulthood," Wellroot CEO and president Allison Ashe said.
However, Ashe said it's not all fun and games for kids in the foster care system.
“We really need for families to step up and be willing to take a foster child into their home," Ashe said.
More than 11,000 kids are in the state's foster care system right now, according to the Georgia Department of Human Services. Ashe said the shortage of foster parents to care for them can lead to long-lasting effects.
“They may be separated from their siblings and not be fostered in the same home with their brother and sister," Ashe said. "We often can't find homes for older kids when we don't have enough foster parents and they end up in group homes. The kids with the most significant behavioral health issues can end up in a placement that don't have the right support for them or end up in hotels.”
Ashe believes the foster care parent shortage stems from the COVID-19 pandemic, but she hopes more families will now want to open up their homes again.
“What we've really found is that from hearing from the families that we work with is that it's brought a lot of joy and a lot of healing into their households," Ashe said.
Wellroot said it's always looking for foster parents to fill the gap. Click here for more information on how to get involved.