High living costs and a booming real estate market have uprooted a number of families from their Florida Keys homes, sending them packing to other counties and states the past two years.
Among those leaving the island chain were foster families.
Eleven homes in the Keys currently serve as a new beginning for 11 young children who’ve faced abuse, abandonment and neglect in their prior homes. Roughly 11 more children who went through similar situations left the Keys and currently live with foster families in Miami-Dade. A lack of foster homes in the Keys is leaving these young people no other choice.
“Like everyone else, foster parents, too, are leaving because of the high cost of living,” said Megan Burgess, foster care licensing coordinator with Wesley House Family Services, a nonprofit that recruits, trains and supports foster families in the Keys.
Burgess said there are two foster homes that could take a 15-year-old boy currently needing care. But those homes lack the space to house the boy.
Burgess said there’s an immediate need for foster homes in the Upper Keys, which is why Wesley House is holding a foster parenting class on Thursday, June 15 in Key Largo. An eight-week, three-hour training course provides prospective foster parents everything they need to know, from child development and behavior management to a child’s transition into a foster home and parenting kids who are dealing with trauma.
“It’s a great way for people to learn what kind of skills are needed,” Burgess said. “It’s not exactly the same as parenting their own children.”
Once the required 24-hour training is complete, those wanting to become foster parents can work through the licensing process. In working with Burgess, families undergo a background check and inspection of the home to ensure there’s enough space. Prospective foster parents must also have references and a sufficient budget.
Burgess said foster parenting takes patience, compassion and a willingness to serve not only a foster child, but also their parents. In most situations, children remain in foster care until they’re returned to their families or placed in permanent homes. Reunification is the whole goal, Burgess said.
“Even if you have no direct contact with the birth parent, you’re helping them by helping these children relearn and heal from the trauma they experienced,” Burgess said. “And you have to really want to do it, because fostering kids who’ve experienced neglect, maltreatment and abuse is hard.
“They come with behaviors and survival skills,” Burgess continued. “They come with ways to get their needs met that are unexpected. But it’s what they figured out to get their needs met.”
Burgess said foster parents can prefer to bring children of certain ages into their homes. She said they particularly have a tough time placing siblings, as the homes can’t accommodate multiple children.
“People have smaller homes, so we struggle to place bigger sibling groups,” Burgess said.
Once children are placed in homes, foster families are regularly visited by a Wesley House case manager. They’re also visited by Burgess, who’s been in the field helping kids for 20 years.
Those wishing to sign up for the foster parent training must register by calling 305-809-5020. The course will be held at Wesley House’s Key Largo office, 99451 Overseas Highway, Suite 200, from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit wesleyhouse.org/foster-care/ for more information.
