This broadcast of CoastLine originally aired on May 20, 2015.
New Hanover County is seeing a rise in the number of children in need of foster homes.
While the reasons for the increase aren’t clear, public officials are taking another look at services for kids who have been removed from their family homes because of abuse or neglect. There is also legislation on the table that would divert more funding to prevent kids coming out of foster care from heading straight into homelessness.
In this edition of CoastLine, we learn about House Bill 424, Fostering Success, Senate Bill 423, the Foster Care Family Act, the issues facing kids that wind up in the foster care system, and what it takes to become a foster parent or a volunteer with Guardian Ad Litem.
In-studio guests:
Liz Kachris-Jones, District Administrator of the fifth judicial district for Guardian Ad Litem
Neely Poelling, Social Worker with the New Hanover County Department of Social Services specializing in foster home licensing and child placement.
For more information on becoming a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer, follow this link: http://www.cfgala.org/
Guardian Ad Litem is holding an Open House for potential volunteers on May 28th from 11:30 AM to 1 PM and 5:30 PM to 7 PM at 272 N. Front Street, Suite 215, Wilmington. RSVP: 910.251.5755 or lee.c.olson@nccourts.org.
For more information on becoming a licensed Foster Parent, follow this link:
http://socialservices.nhcgov.com/foster-care/
For information on Guardian Ad Litem in Duplin, Onslow, Sampson, and Jones Counties, follow this link: http://gal4kids.org/ or call (910) 346-5335.
