Gateway Children’s Services looking for foster parents, mentors

By Jamie Vinson

Advocate Managing Editor

Foster parenting is both meaningful and challenging work, according to Lynda Mae Taylor, Gateway Children’s Services director of development and community engagement.

“Foster parents receive training to help them understand trauma and how it affects children, but much of the learning happens in real time as they welcome a child into their home and daily routines,” Taylor said.

“Sometimes it means making a last minute trip to the store for clothing or comfort items a youth didn’t arrive with. Other times it means offering patience when trust is still developing, adjusting schedules and showing up consistently even when emotions run high,” Taylor added.

Foster parents play a critical role in providing stability, safety and encouragement during what could be a very uncertain time in a child’s life, according to Taylor.

It is a responsibility, but Taylor says foster parents also receive benefits in return.

“There are also powerful moments of connection and hope. It may be a shared laugh while watching television, celebrating a small success at school or seeing a child finally feel safe enough to relax and be themselves. Foster parents do important work that often goes unseen, but the impact is lasting. By opening their homes, they help children heal, build confidence and move toward a brighter future,” she said.

GCS understands not everyone may be able to foster. There are other ways to help GCS serve children, including volunteering, mentoring or providing respite support (short term care) to help child build not only strong, but healthy relationships with adults.

“Mentoring is a flexible way to get involved and does not require a full time commitment. Mentors may start by getting to know a youth through short visits, shared activities or time spent together at GCS. As relationships grow, mentors often enjoy outings such as grabbing a meal, attending community events or spending a day doing something the youth enjoys. For some families, this can eventually grow into respite opportunities, such as occasional overnight visits that give youth a chance to experience family life in a supportive setting,” Taylor said.

She added that, “Mentors and respite families play an incredibly important role for youth in residential treatment by helping them develop positive connections, confidence and most importantly, a sense of belonging.”

Taylor stresses that anyone who feels called to help “can play a role in changing the trajectory of a young person’s life for the better.”