Foster Care in the Time of Covid-19
At this very moment, more than 8,000 children are in the foster care system in Oregon. Imagine living through the COVID-19 pandemic without the care and love of a permanent family, whose consistent presence, more than anything else, assures you that everything will be okay.
Our work at Boys & Girls Aid doesn’t stop and our commitment to ensuring every child grows up with a family of their own is more important than ever.
This pandemic is continually affecting children in foster care in several ways:
Due to extensive trauma and the constant stress that it causes, youth in foster care have a higher rate of severe health conditions than the general population.
Activities and communities have changed schedules, and even had to shut down due to the pandemic, preventing some of the social interactions these children rely on.
Foster youth who have found a way to be in college, even without the support of a permanent family, may now have difficulty finding a place to stay as campuses are shut down across the country.
“Now more than ever, we need the Boys & Girls Aid Community to come together to support youth in foster care. Together, let’s remember to take care of the most valuable members of our community during this time. We can get through this time of uncertainty by keeping our best selves present and supporting the youth and family we serve.”
Boys & Girls Aid has been successfully caring for Oregon’s most vulnerable children for 135 years and we will continue to do so with the same dedication and hard work that has made us an innovative leader in Oregon’s child welfare system. In response to COVID-19 we face some unique challenges:
Retaining/maintaining staffing ratios to ensure safety for all children and to comply with state and federal requirements.
Funding additional food and supply costs for children and foster parents due to school closures.
Hiring additional staff to relieve/cover for staff and foster parents.
Boys & Girls Aid is taking proactive steps to address concerns and potential program and agency challenges. We are currently following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, as well as guidance from federal, state, and local officials.
Now more than ever, we need the Boys & Girls Aid Community to come together to support youth in foster care. Together, let’s remember to take care of the most valuable members of our community during this time. We can get through this time of uncertainty by keeping our best selves present and supporting the youth and family we serve.
Support Children in Foster Care
Encouraging More People to Become Foster Parents