Fostering Love

Making a Difference
Children and Youth is required to find permanency for the child. The goal is always to return the child to their home.

However, if a child is "in the system" for between 15 and 22 months, Children and Youth must choose another goal to achieve permanency, unless the birth parents are showing significant efforts, said Timena Renn, a supervisor at Northumberland County Children and Youth.

There are currently 37 foster families and 24 kinship homes in Northumberland County, associated with the county. There are several other private foster family agencies in the county as well, Renn said.

"Most people do it because they want to help kids," Renn said. "They have seen kids in situations and feel they can make a difference."

That goal is the most difficult part, Brenda said -- having to give the children back. "It is so hard because you get so attached," she said. You can't expect them to stay and must be prepared.

Many of the Broschart family friends wonder how the family can say goodbye so often -- most times never knowing what becomes of the child.

"Well, you do what you have to do," Brenda said. "But there are a lot of tears."

Rachel agreed with her mother.

"They really do become like family, even in a short time," she said.

The Broschart family takes in mostly young children and they usually stay for about a month, Brenda said, but sometimes longer. "It doesn't take long to get attached," she said.

A foster parent has the difficult task of not only knowing they have to give the child back, they may never know the outcome.

They have to trust that the judge in the court system will know when it is safe to allow the child to return home.

Kinship Care
Another aspect of foster care is kinship care, Renn said. Kinship care could be undertaken by a family member, or even a coach or teacher of the child.

Recently a teacher "stepped up to the plate" and took in a two siblings, Renn said. The family still must go through the foster care licensing procedures, which are "fairly cumbersome."

Surprisingly, Renn said, there are many older parents that choose to become foster or kinship families, but each situation is different. "There is no right or wrong or who can and can't as long as their heart is in it," she said.

The foster and kinship parents are trained to deal with difficult situations, Renn said. And they have a support system with the county agency and the National Foster Parent Association.