New Foster Care Proposals

New Foster Care Proposals

Note from unhappygrammy-This sounds like a good idea. After all, foster strangers get monthy respid care, compliments of the state, when they want to get away from the kids. It's about time parents get some of the benefits before their children are stolen.


February 12, 2010
By Dan Corcoran



SALEM, Ore. -- State lawmakers are debating a new measure that would alter the way that Oregon foster kids find a place to stay, which will affect many local agencies.



Senate Bill 991 would pave the way for churches and other private organizations to sponsor what are called "safe families networks," which would operate like informal foster care run by voluteers.



The Senate is tackling the issue in Salem this week. If approved, the measure would allow for volunteers to help stressed out parents by taking their kids off their hands for a few days or months or for however long is needed. The parents would then be given the chance to take care of their issues before home life for kids spirals negatively out of control.



Some local organizations say with the right safeguards, these community groups could provide a vital resource for struggling kids.



"If there's a potential for a bill like this to come along and step in when a family is struggling and to assist them, I think it has a lot of potential," said Christy Obie-Barrett, Executive Director of A Family For Every Child.



Safe families networks like the one being debate by Oregon's Senate already exist in 11 other states including states with fewer kids in foster care.



Last year, more than 13,000 Oregon children spent at least one day in foster care. Critics say the democratic proposal is a crutch instead of fixing the larger issue of keeping Oregon's families intact. Supporters say the bigger benefit is keeping kids safe in the first place


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