LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky is facing a significant shortage of foster homes, with nearly twice as many children in care as there are available placements.
Earlier this month, Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball and Ombudsman Jonathan Grate released a report highlighting the number of foster children staying in Cabinet of Health and Family Services offices and other non-traditional placements. The report found there are about 8,700 children in foster care but fewer than 4,600 approved and available foster homes.
Department of Community-Based Services Commissioner Lesa Dennis said the need for foster homes has always existed, but the greatest demand is for families willing to take in children ages 12 and older, sibling groups, and those with complex needs such as behavioral health challenges.
“We have always needed foster homes that are willing to care for youth 12 and up and sibling groups. But what we have seen, especially since the pandemic, is that children are having more complex behavioral health needs, and those are children of adolescent age. The pandemic put a strain on an already strained system,” Dennis said. “We are prepared to support children (who) have experienced abuse, neglect and trauma. So when we see this population of youth has more aggressive behaviors, juvenile justice involvement and more complex needs, it’s putting a strain on the foster care system and our provider network.”
Former foster youth Reuben Watson said he understands these challenges firsthand, having experienced abuse and neglect in both his biological home and some foster placements. He said adolescents in foster care often develop protective behaviors as a result of trauma.
“With kids that are a little older (like I was), you’ve got a hardened shell because you’ve had to do that to survive. Part of your survival mechanisms is using tools and things that probably wouldn’t serve you well if you’re in a healthy environment, but to survive from the trauma that you’ve experienced, there’s a shell you have to put on,” Watson said.
He added that older children and those with behavioral or mental health issues are sometimes viewed as “damaged goods,” which can lead to fewer foster parents willing to take them in or placements that don’t last.
“I think some people think that if I choose a child that is under a certain age, I can shape and mold them to be what I want them to be…I’m of the belief that those children are not beyond repair. Being the one who caused chaos and issues, and yet my (adoptive) parents chose me,” Watson said. “When you talk about teenagers that have the opportunity to be loved and cared for, they’re as deserving as the babies.”
He encouraged those considering fostering teenagers to understand that healing takes time and patience.
“My hope and challenge would be for those who are considering fostering teenagers is that there is hope on the horizon, and that has to be understood and communicated,” Watson said. “Those kids are worthy of love and understanding.”
Watson said foster families play a critical role in helping children rebuild their lives.
“You’re laying the foundation and planting seeds and knowing that this child may leave your home, but your hope would be that you plant enough seeds that when those difficult times come, the foundation you helped build will sustain them,” he said.
To address the shortage, Dennis said the Department of Community-Based Services is raising awareness and working with community partners, including faith-based organizations, to recruit more foster families.
“You get to open up your heart. You get to open up your home. You get to love on a child who at that particular time needs it most. (You get to) be a part of their story, be a part of their success and be a part of helping them reach their full human potential,” Dennis said.
The state has also streamlined the process for relatives providing kinship care by waiving certain non-safety requirements, helping keep children within their families while easing the burden on the foster system.
Dennis said support services are available to foster parents, including help with medical appointments, school enrollment, and navigating the judicial system.
“We really want to make sure our foster parents feel included, part of the team and have the support they need to care for Kentucky’s children,” she said.
Both Dennis and Watson encouraged those interested in fostering to contact DCBS, while acknowledging that fostering may not be the right fit for everyone.
“Being a foster parent is a calling for sure. Caring for a child is not. What I mean by that is, we can’t all foster, but we can all do something,” Watson said.
Watson now works at the Lexington Leadership Foundation as director of unity and action, where he promotes community involvement in improving the foster care system.
“Businesses can support foster families. Churches can support foster families. It doesn’t always mean opening your home, but it could mean providing supportive services,” Watson said. “We all have a place to play in this redemptive space of child welfare. If we’re able to do that collectively, then we build an ecosystem that doesn’t just support and champion our kids, but it champions our families.”
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