Shortage of foster families for teens, older kids

There are enough foster parents in Shasta County for the county’s children, and more. So why are some children and youths housed in other care programs waiting for a foster family?

The answer is in the age group most foster parents want to foster.

“Shasta County is a receiving county because we have more foster youth coming… from other counties for placement than we send out…,” said Dianna Wagner, branch director of children’s services at Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).

Thirty California counties place foster youth in Shasta County, Wagner said.

“HHSA Children’s Services Branch has 464 foster youth currently in out-of-home placement as of Oct. 4,” Wagner said. “Of those, 375 (are from) Shasta County.”

Most of the 149 out-of-county foster children and youths come from other Northern California counties.

“Tehama, Trinity and Humboldt counties each have a higher number of youth placed in Shasta County than any of the other (California) counties,” Wagner said.

Despite open slots, some children are in other programs while they wait for a foster home. One reason is foster parents' preference.

“It’s really the 0 to 5 kids who are in demand in Shasta County,” Wagner said.

Many foster parents, also called resource parents, want to foster and then adopt, Mathis said. They want infants or young babies.

“The age groups in need of resource parents are ages 6 to 11, sibling sets and at-risk teens. The 6- to 11-year-old age group is tough.”

Finding homes for teens can be even tougher.

Jadin McWilliams, 19, was a foster child in Shasta County from age 8 to 18.

“I have been through 11 foster placements,” McWilliams said. “Some people give up when they can’t handle things. Being a teenager..., not a lot of foster parents put up with the attitude or misbehavior.”

McWilliams said she thinks some foster parents are more tolerant of normal teenage behavior with their biological children. She also said she had some good foster parents, and good experiences.

“I wouldn’t be the person I am today," McWilliams said. "I wouldn’t have the opportunities I have today – without the foster system.”

Opportunities like education: McWilliams attends Shasta College and plans to go into a nursing program after she finishes her general education requirements.

She’s also a speaker in the county’s foster parent training program.

McWilliams advice to other foster parents is simple: “Always treat us like your own children.”

Matt and Kylie Williams of Redding chose to foster teens. They currently have two foster daughters, ages 14 and 16.

“There’s such as need — and we had an extra bedroom.” said Matt Williams. “We’re people of faith. We’re taught to care for the less fortunate. We’re taught to help others in need.”

Williams said he and his wife chose to work with teens because they wanted to make sure their biological kids didn’t feel any competition with the foster daughters. The age gap helps with that, he said. In fact, his two biological daughters welcomed their foster sisters.

“They’re good ambassadors,” Williams said. “My 3-year-old and 1-year-old, they love having big sisters.”

Williams said initially it takes a little more time to work with teens than with little children, but the results are worth it.

“The connection at first is easier with younger kids,” Williams said. “With the teenagers you have to (make) a lot more of a concerted effort to earn their trust – but there’s a great payoff.”

Finding foster families for children and teens with special needs and keeping siblings together can make a tough job tougher.

“Some families… may not currently have the skills or knowledge to support a foster child with severe medical or mental health needs,” Wagner said. “Others don’t have the room for large sibling sets.”

Cottonwood resident Nichole Crawford went into foster care at age 6. She was adopted at age 10 with her two siblings, ages 9 and 6, but went back into foster care at 17. 

Now at 18 years old, she mentors other foster kids for Youth and Family Services. She said she tells the kids "there are going to be some let-downs in life. You will find people who will love you and (that's when) you bring your guard down.”

Her advice for foster parents and adopters is to keep your promises, be honest, support the kids and love them unconditionally.

“Any foster kid doesn’t really want to be adopted because they’re afraid of promises not kept,” Crawford said. “Foster kids think they’re going to be a little out of the picture because they’re not blood-related.”

Crawford said at first she didn’t like the foster program because she thought it wasn’t well organized. Now she sees more programs and opportunities offered to foster kids and those in transitional programs, including education.

Like McWilliams, Crawford is enrolled at Shasta College and plans to enter a nursing program.

“This semester I’m done with my prerequisites,” Crawford said. “I graduated high school early. I’m almost there.”

Some foster children come from homes where abuse or neglect was a regular part of life.

There’s a need for foster parents who understand how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) impact brain development, and physical and mental functioning, and can care for children with a high number of ACEs, Wagner said.

“(We need foster parents) willing to become Intensive Services Foster Care homes (ISFC),” Wagner said. “….these homes will have additional training and support in the home in order to build their skills.”

Even with a shortage of foster parents able or willing to take on older kids or those with special needs or circumstances, all children and youths do have a place to go.

“We don't have children on a wait list,” Wagner said. “Because Shasta County has many private nonprofit agencies that serve foster youth we take many children from out-of-county. This does not mean that our own foster youth go without placement or service. All our youth currently have resource homes or higher levels of care.”

Placing a child or teen in their ideal foster family is still the goal, according to Wagner.

“Are there always homes? Yes. Are there always the right homes? That’s what we’re working towards.”

How the process works

Finding a foster family, referred to by the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) as resource families, may not be the first step in a child’s placement.

“Children are removed from… their parents’ or caregivers’ (home) due to safety issues,” Mathis said. “In our community we see high prevalence of domestic violence and substance use. Both of these issues impact (children’s) safety….”

The agency first tries to “eliminate the risk of abuse or neglect in an effort to keep a child in the home,” Mathis said.

If this doesn’t work, the agency attempts to find other family members who can take kids.

“But once they’re a case these family members need to qualify as a resource family (foster parents),” Wagner said.

That means they need to go through the training and education. If they’re approved they’ll receive some support from the county. This is true of any approved foster family.

“Foster families are able to receive financial reimbursement for having youth in their home,” Mathis said. “This reimbursement is expected to meet the needs for the youth’s care, food, clothing and housing.”

Shasta County also provides support programs for families.

“We provide ongoing case management, foster parent liaison assistance, initial and ongoing training, in-home supportive services including therapy, (and other services),” Mathis said.

Some of the traits that qualify a family for caring for foster children include flexibility, commitment, a strong support system, a sense of humor, realistic expectations and resourcefulness.

“Also successful families are able to detach their own self-esteem from the successes of their children or their children’s troubles,” Mathis said. 

Resource family applicants don’t need a lot of money, but they do need a home where the foster child or youth has a sleeping space. They also need to demonstrate the home is safe, which is determined by social workers who perform home and grounds assessments.

Call 225-5554 or go to www.co.shasta.ca.us to learn more about foster parenting.