ELIZABETHTOWN — At the age of 12, Karen was admitted into foster care after a report of suspected sexual abuse and neglect was reported. The Department of Social Services investigated, found Karen to be in immediate danger, and placed her in a licensed foster home.
Karen came from a home where the cabinets were often bare and the only daily meal was the one she had at school, thanks to the free lunch program. Her mother and father were “separated” but continued spending time together using drugs, mostly every day. Karen was often sexually abused by many people in the neighborhood, including her maternal uncle. She skipped school often and her grades had dramatically dropped in the last two years. Karen, at twelve years of age, has already experienced numerous losses: innocence, safety, parents, dreams.
Studies show that foster care often leads to health problems, addiction, homelessness, early pregnancy, domestic violence, arrest, incarceration, and sex trafficking. However, research also shows that childhood maltreatment interrupts healthy emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development.
“Karen is vulnerable and needs help,” reads a Bladen County DSS press release. “She needs a foster home that will stick by her and believe in her when she feels nobody else does. She needs stability, consistency, nurturing and understanding. She needs someone to teach her skills of daily living and help her realize her talents so she knows without a doubt that she is capable, lovable, and worthwhile. She also needs advocates who educate and bring awareness to child abuse and neglect. You can be an advocate for Karen by attending Bladen County Department of Social Services’ next Foster/Adoptive Parenting classes and becoming a licensed foster and/or adoptive parent.”
“Foster parents are volunteers from the community who open their homes and provide 24-hour love and care to abused or neglected children,” said Vickie Smith, Bladen County Department of Social Services director. “These nurturing, caring, responsible parents are the missing pieces in our foster children’s lives.”
She went on to say, “Bladen County DSS has found itself with more children needing temporary substitute family care than skilled and caring foster families to meet that need. We used to say that we had children who are hard to place, but it is really that homes — good homes — are hard to find.”
An information meeting will be held for those interested in fostering or adopting. The information session will take place June 1 from 6-8 p.m., with classes beginning the following Thursday, June 8. Classes will be every Tuesday and Thursday from then until July 18 and will cover topics like helping children with attachments, helping children leave, learning healthy behaviors, and understanding the impact of fostering/adopting. The information meeting, as well as the classes, will be held at Bladen County Department of Social Services, located at 208 East McKay St. in Elizabethtown.
Anyone with questions may contact LeAnne Graham at (910) 862-6848 or Sheila Manuel at (910) 862-6830.