Agency Seeking Foster Parents

The county is seeking foster parents to care for the area’s growing number of abused and neglected children who need new homes.

Citing the effects of the recession, county officials say they now have only 240 foster homes countywide, down from 363 in 1991. But the number of children needing foster parents continues to climb. The county placed 480 children with families or individuals last year, up from 364 in 1994.

“These children did nothing wrong,” said Louis Dixon, a county social worker and foster home recruiter. “They are just born to the wrong people. Because of that, they have to pay the price.”

The county’s Public Social Services Agency has scheduled an informational meeting on becoming a foster parent at 7 p.m. on Jan. 17 at the Senior Nutrition Center, 2220 Ventura Blvd., in Camarillo.

Although foster parents receive monthly stipends to raise foster children, Dixon said the amount covers basic costs and does not leave the guardians with much money left over. Depending on the age of the children, payments range from $375 to $484 a month with additional allowances for clothes and special care.

Dixon said many children seeking foster parents were neglected, born to drug users or were physically or sexually abused. Interested families or individuals can select the age, gender and background of the youngsters they want to raise, Dixon said. Foster parents must undergo background checks and participate in an orientation program.

“A successful foster parent is probably someone who is flexible but able to set realistic limits for these children,” Dixon said. “We are trying to get [people] who are not doing this for what they can get paid, but for what they can get from the emotional rewards.”

For more information, call 654-3456 or 654-3463.