St. Louis County Has Shortage of Foster Parents

County Has Trouble Finding Foster Homes

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St Louis County is seeing a severe shortage of people who are willing to be foster parents.

Every day there are around 700 Children in St. Louis County who are in the care of foster homes. This number changes daily.

Zelda Cherne is currently fostering two children; a 10-month-old and a six-year-old.

She says it can be hard, knowing how much the children miss their parents and that being a foster parent has opened her eyes to the problems that affects the community and the children.

But St. Louis County is seeing a shortage in the number of people who are stepping up to foster the children in need.  

Among the reasons for the shortage is that the state made some financial changes.

“A few years ago they were trying to balance out adoption and foster care payments, so foster care came down, adoption went up,” said ChaQuana McEntyre, a child protection social worker.

Another big problem is that families are intimidated by the work that is involved in raising a foster child, according to McEntyre.

But those who do choose to foster children say that it’s worth it.

St Louis County is holding an informational meeting on November 5 at the Washington Center gym where families can learn and ask questions about foster care.

A light dinner will be served.