Editor:
Each May during National Foster Care Month, we salute the compassionate people who make a difference in the lives of our local children and families throughout the year.
As you know, young people in foster care especially, need nurturing adults on their side because their own families have experienced trauma, are in crisis and are unable to care for them. Thanks to the kindness and dedication of our local foster care parents, many of these formerly abused or neglected children and teens will either safely reunite with their parents, be cared for by relatives, or be adopted by loving families.
We applaud our local foster care parents' caring commitment and continuing support. Without the ongoing efforts of foster parents, relative caregivers, mentors, advocates, case workers and volunteers, too many children will end up facing life's challenges all alone.
Together we can offer children and teens in foster care an opportunity to heal from the trauma they have experienced. This will happen as they build trusting relationships with children and teens and learn as much as they can about the impact of trauma on children and teens. Foster parents are healing agents making a big difference in children's and teens' lives.
We greatly appreciate and recognize our local foster parents.
Sincerely,
Teri Saunders
Chief Executive Officer
Heartland for Children
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - www.newssun.com/ltr-051612-Saunders