To the Editor:
Every child needs a safe, loving place to grow, and right now youth across Connecticut need our community’s help. Recent state assessments reveal a critical shortage of foster families in the child welfare system, showing that Connecticut needs at least 800 additional foster homes across the state to ensure children receive the emotional support and life-long connections they deserve.
To help meet this need, the Annie C. Courtney Foundation is inviting compassionate local residents to explore the rewarding journey of foster and adoptive parenting by attending an upcoming free virtual information session.
This urgent push arrives alongside positive new child welfare legislative updates in Connecticut. New state laws signed by Governor Ned Lamont aim to significantly expand the foundation of support for foster caregivers, including an increase in monthly care payments.
Annie C wants neighbors to know that there is no single “perfect” profile for a foster parent. Many residents hold misconceptions about who qualifies, but the doors are open to everyone. Applicants do not need to be married, they do not need to own a home, and single individuals are fully welcome and encouraged to apply. The primary requirement is simply a willingness to provide a safe, stable and loving environment for a child in transition.
There is a one-hour virtual information session that will introduce attendees to the licensing process and the daily realities of making a positive impact on a local youth’s life.
Anyone curious about how they can support Connecticut’s children and teens is welcome to attend. To reserve a spot or to learn more please call Deb or Tom at 475-235-2184.
Thomas Moore
Community Outreach Director / Foster Family Recruiter
Annie C Courtney Foundation, Inc.
Waterbury, Conn.
