Rescue 100 is committed to recruiting, training and supporting foster families who can provide loving homes for children in the state foster care system. The faith-based initiative will hold an orientation session Feb. 11 in Columbus at Life Church at 4888 N. Frontage Road.
Started in 2016 in Gulfport, Rescue 100 works daily as a collaborative effort between the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, the courts and churches of all denominations across the state of Mississippi. These organizations work together to streamline the training and licensing process for foster families. Rescue 100 trains and equips foster families through online training courses and a one-day training to expedite licensing their homes so they can care for children in need of a stable home environment.
When a child must be removed from their parent’s care because of abuse, neglect or exploitation, the first thought of child welfare workers is to restore some semblance of safety and normalcy as quickly as possible. The goal
is to place the traumatized child with a parent or family who will love, nurture, protect and care for the infant, toddler, children or teenager — until the birth parent is able to do the same.
“In the state of Mississippi, we have a little over 5,000 children in foster care, and we do not have that number of foster homes,” said Krystal Tyler of Columbus, a member of Life Church and area social work supervisor for Rescue 100.
“The problem is, we don’t have enough foster parents in all areas of our state to care for these precious children,” said Jess H. Dickinson, commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. “If we do nothing else, we must do everything within our power to recruit, train, license and support these wonderful foster parents who do such extremely important and life-changing work for our state.”
The Columbus session is one of several planned around the state in February.
“This is a great, no-commitment-required opportunity to explore the possibilities of foster care and decide if this is something you may be interested in pursuing,” said Sabrea Smith of Oxford, director of Faith-based and Volunteer Services for MDCPS.
About the sessions
Orientation sessions are from 6 to 7 p.m. Potential foster parents must be at least 21 and be legal residents of Mississippi. Those interested in becoming a foster parent will have the opportunity to ask questions. They will also learn more about what foster care involves, what a foster parent is, the children who are in foster care and the types of situations that put them there, things to consider and information about the licensing process and what is involved and required. Attendance at an orientation session is required before an individual can enroll for Foster Care/Rescue 100 training.
To register for sessions, go to mdcps.gov/rescue100.
Other scheduled February orientation sessions are:
· Feb. 4 – First Baptist Church, Laurel
· Feb. 5 – First Methodist Church, Louisville
· Feb. 11 – First Baptist Church, Philadelphia
· Feb. 12 – Life Baptist Church, Meridian
· Feb. 19 – Cornerstone Church of God, Meridian
For more information, call Sabrea Smith, 769-798-3586 or visit mdcps.ms.gov/Rescue100.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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