Foster parents needed in Cannon Co.

For those looking to make a difference in the lives of children, becoming a foster parent provides a rewarding opportunity to help a child in need.

Youth Villages is currently in need of caring adults in the Woodbury-area to open their hearts and homes to children who have suffered abuse, neglect or abandonment. These children need families who will care for them until they can return to their birth families or an adoptive family is found for them.

Foster parents provide children with a safe, comfortable environment and monitor their emotional growth, school progress and physical health. They also serve as positive role models to children who may lack caring adults in their lives.

“Children need caring adults in their lives,” Matthew Clement, Youth Villages foster parent recruiter, said. “Foster parents play an important role by helping children deal with past trauma, allowing them to grow and succeed.”

Youth Villages provides foster parents with 24-hour access to counselors, support groups and a monthly stipend to offset the cost of adding a child to the home. Foster parents also often have the first right to adopt if the child becomes available for adoption.

Foster parents should be over the age of 25 and living in the Cannon County area. Foster parents should have viable income, reliable transportation and be able to pass a background check and home study.

Youth Villages offers free training classes for new foster parents to teach them how to address a child’s emotional and behavioral problems, as well as parenting and discipline techniques. A series of free training classes will begin Thursday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. at the Youth Villages office, located at 1420 Neal Street, Suite 202, Cookeville, TN 38501.

For more information about the upcoming training classes or how you can change the life of a child, contact Matthew Clement, foster parent recruiter, at 931-525-6905 or matthew.clement@youthvillages.org.