Dakota County Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2024 - Providing a home to learn and grow

Providing a home to learn and grow

Foster parents can be the difference in a young life

Teenagers, brothers and sisters, and other children throughout Dakota County need a safe and supportive home where they can learn and grow. You could be the difference in their lives.

There is a great need in Dakota County for more foster homes for children. Currently, there are about 200 children living in foster care, but the number of those without a home is growing.

Individuals, couples and parents alike can become foster parents and help provide a safe and loving home. Children awaiting foster homes have diverse backgrounds and family history, and we’re looking for residents to meet these children’s cultural needs.

We know providing a foster home is a big decision. We’ll be with you from the start, answering your questions and guiding you through the process. That includes informational meetings and extensive training, so foster parents feel comfortable and ready for the children in their care. It takes about 3–6 months, but the satisfaction of being able to offer a child a safe, loving home makes it well worth it.

Traditional foster care involves families from the community opening their home to children who are experiencing distress and are unable to live safely with their biological families. Foster homes offer children a safe haven, providing much-needed stability, love and care. Additionally, foster families give children the chance to experience normalcy, learn, heal and grow. Traditional foster care families can provide positive environments for children for varying lengths of time, ranging from just weeks to months or even years.

If you are looking for more of a short-term flexible commitment, you may be interested in respite foster care. This provides a temporary break to birth and foster parents. While the types of foster care options vary, the goal is always to help children by giving them a safe and caring place to live.

You have the opportunity to make a difference in these children’s lives, so consider becoming a foster parent today.

To learn more, visit www.dakotacounty.us and search foster care.