Hephzibah’s caring team members: (l to r) Amanda Wurst, Sarah Rogers, and Ashley Lepse are dedicated to finding and supporting foster parents.
“Foster parents are people with big hearts who want to make a difference in the life of a child,” says Ashley Lepse, Hephzibah’s recruitment and program support coordinator.
“Often, people choose to foster parent because at some point in their lives they were touched by foster care or adoption,” she says.
An interest in foster parenting has many origins, but one common thread: a desire to provide a healthy, stable environment for a child. Some foster parents have same-sex marriages, some are single parents, some work outside the home and others stay home.
Currently there are more than 16,000 children in foster care in Illinois and a huge need for foster families. Many people don’t realize they have a choice of being licensed through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services or a private agency, such as Hephzibah Children’s Association.
Choosing to be licensed through Hephzibah gives foster parents greater individualized attention and access to additional resources, such as a 24-hour hotline for their concerns, and a foster parent club that meets twice a month for support and encouragement.
Separate from the standard DCFS training that all foster parents receive, those who choose to be licensed through Hephzibah are invited to additional training from experienced professionals, with dinner and child care provided. A new monthly program offers three hours of child care on a Friday night so parents can have a break.
Each summer, kids enjoy Camp HephSIBah, a unique program that unites siblings who have been separated by the foster care system. Here kids find a safe place to develop sibling relationships and enjoy fun camp memories, such as roasting marshmallows.
“Our team goes above and beyond what’s required in supporting foster parents. We help with transportation, attending school IEP meetings, and acting as advocates in court,” says Amanda Wurst, Hephzibah’s foster care services coordinator. “Many foster families stay with us for years and find it very rewarding.”
Hephzibah is a specialized agency which means it serves children who often have significant emotional and behavioral needs. A placement categorized as specialized necessitates a higher level of support – usually 2 to 3 times per month.
A foster family can be a forever home or a transitional home that gives a child love and stability when he or she needs it most. A child can receive one-on-one care and experience being part of a family. The extensive licensing process helps Hephzibah tailor services to each family.
“We learn more about the client and that helps us match the child with the family whenever possible,” says Sarah Rogers, Hephzibah’s family assessment specialist. “Stability is our number one goal.”
Hephzibah hosts its next information session Thursday, February 12 at 7 pm the Hephzibah offices, 1144 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL. Download a flier and plan to join us, or pass it on to a friend.
Contact Ashley Lepse at 708-649-7187, or alepse@www.hephzibahhome.org with any questions, or to set up an information session at your church or book club.