COVID-19 creating unique challenges for foster families

Despite COVID-19, Gateway Longview's foster program is still going strong.

ALL NEW FOR YOUTHIS MORNING --WE'RE NOW IN THE"MIDDLE OF AMONTH"--AIMED AT "RAISINGAWARENESS"--OF THE "THOUSANDSOF CHILDREN"--NATIONWIDE--WHO ARE IN THEFOSTER CARESYSTEM."MAY" IS FOSTERCARE MONTH.ACCORDING TO THE"DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND HUMANSERVICES" --THE NUMBER OFCHILDREN "WAITING"TO BE ADOPTED --INCREASED BY ABOUT11-THOUSAND--FROM 2009 TO 2018.IN 2018 -- ONLY ABOUTA QUARTER OFCHILDREN--WHO WENT INTO THEFOSTER CARE SYSTEM--WERE ADOPTED.BUT HOW IS THECOVID-19 PANDEMICIMPACTING THE"FOSTER CARESYSTEM?

"AND HOW DO YOU GOABOUT KEEPING ACHILD SAFE IF YOUWANT TO FOSTERTHEM?7 EYEWITNESS NEWSREPORTER JEFFSLAWSON SHOWS US.ITS I THINK THE MOSTSELFLESS THING YOUCOULD DO RIGHT?

IT'SNOT ABOUT YOU ITSABOUT THE PERSONWALKING IN YOURDOOR.FOSTERING IN WNY--FORCED TO ADAPTWITH COVID-19.WE'RE STILL OPEN,ACCEPTINGREFERRALS -- ANDWE'RE TRAININGPEOPLE TO BECOMEFOSTER PARENTS.MICHELLE COPE ATGATEWAY LONGVIEW-SAYS ALL OF THIS ISNOW BEING DONEDIGITALLYTHEIR VISITS WITHTHEIR PARENTS --WHICH IS REALLY SAD --NOW BEING DONEVIRTUAL .

BUT THEFAMILIES ARE OK WITHIT BECAUSE ITS TOKEEP THE KIDS SAFE.AND IN ADDITION TOVIRTUAL SESSIONS,THE PANDEMIC ISALSO BRINGINGDIFFICULT QUESTIONSTO THE SURFACE.WEVE HAD TO ASK OURFAMILIES WOULD YOUTAKE A CHILD WHO ISEXPOSED TO, ORPOSSIBLY HAS COVID?THE FAMILIES -- LIKEMANY -- NEED HELPARTS SUPPLIES - -BOOKS -- OUR FOSTERFAMILIES ARE HOMEWITH THESE KIDS ITSTHE SUPPLIES THEYNETHOSE SUPPLIES HELPTHE CHILDREN WHOARE DEALING WITHTHESE HARDSHIPS.KIDS ARE RESILIENTAND THIS IS WHAT WENEED TO DO RIGHTNOW.ANY SORT OFDONATION CAN HELP --BECAUSE IT NOT ONLYSHOWS THE CHILDRENTHAT THERE ISSOMEONE THINKINGOF THEM -- BUT THEFAMILIES AS WELL.THINK OF A FOSTERFAMILY YOU CANSUPPORT -- AND JUSTCHECK IN ON THEMASKING HOW YOU AREDOING.GATEWAY LONGVIEWIS ACCEPTINGDONATIONS SUCH ASSCHOOL SUPPLIES,PPE EQUIPMENT ANDFOOD.

MAY IS ALSONATIONAL FOSTERCARE MONTH, ANDTHE AGENCY ISACCEPTINGAPPLICATIONS FROMPOTENTIAL FOSTERFAMILIES..

TO JOIN THE75 FAMILIES ALREADYIN THE SYSTEM.

YOUCAN LEARN MORE ATWKBW.COM.