foster care adoption southern indiana

National Foster Care Month

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May is National Foster Care Month, a time to acknowledge foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections. During National Foster Care Month, we renew our commitment to ensuring a bright future for the more than 20,000 children and youth in foster care in Indiana, and we celebrate those who make a meaningful difference in their lives. Have you or someone you know thought about becoming a foster parent? Family Ark is looking for adults with a big heart or that enjoy mentoring children/young adults. The great thing about Family Ark, your never alone, we offer all our foster families 24/7 availability and support, convenient training opportunities and a family like atmosphere. If you would like to learn more or see if we are the right fit for you, please give us a call today at (812) 288-6800.

May is National Foster Care Month

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May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize the role each of us plays in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care. In Jeffersonville and throughout southern Indiana, Family Ark has been partnering with area families just like yours to provide foster care services to children in need for over 40 years. New to being a foster parent but not new to the idea is Aungelique Walls, “My mom has been a foster parent since I was 13 years old so foster children have a special place in my heart. Being a foster parent is being that ‘bridge over troubled water‘ and I’m grateful for the opportunity.” Aungelique is a young working foster mom and has made plenty of room in her home and heart for some youngsters who really need her. Family Ark Case Manager, Sam Steele stated, “Aungelique has been an amazing addition to our foster parents! She came to us with lots of energy and eagerness to take on new challenges! She has an enormous amount of compassion for children and families and wants to help them by getting to know each one individually and helping them make positive changes. I am confident that Aungelique will make lasting impacts and I am excited to work with her.” If you’re an adult with a heart for children, Family Ark wants to talk with you! Family Ark is always looking for foster parents to help children who have experienced abuse, neglect or other trauma. Who are Foster Parents? Foster parents are individuals or couples aged 21 or older. Some have raised or are currently raising children, and others have never raised children. They come from all walks of life, various income levels and careers, different educational backgrounds, and are diverse in many ways. All share a desire to have a positive impact on the life of a child. For more information, please contact Mike Karman at Family Ark, 812-282-8479, mkarman@thefamilyark.org

Explore the World of Foster Parenting

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Foster care can be a temporary home for a child, allowing a birth family to safely work through a crisis followed by the child returning to a home that has had time to heal and grow. However, when that is not possible, Family Ark wants to ensure all children have a forever family—adoptive parents who will be there for all of life’s challenges and joys. We recently witnessed that joyous outcome for one of our foster families. Gary Stallings and Paul Kilbourne accepted placement of two brothers in December of 2011.  These two young boys demonstrated resiliency as they received substantial therapeutic support. Over time, it became clear that returning the boys to their birth family was not going to be an option.  “When reunification was obviously not going to occur we decided to inquire about adoption. Family Ark staff assisted us with a new home study and even showed up at the adoption hearing to support us,” Paul said.  The journey to giving these two boys a loving, permanent home took about a year, but on November 14th 2013, all parties were in a court room in Indianapolis to make the boys place in the Stallings/Kilbourne family official. “The feeling of becoming permanent parents to our two children was one of the happiest feelings in our lives. We highly suggest exploring the world of foster parenting.  The children make it so worthwhile,” Paul said afterwards. Family Ark wishes Gary, Paul, and their new family all the best! Post submitted by Jason Burgess, Family Ark Foster Care Case Manager