Local Foster Family Agency Helps Match Foster Kids To The Right Foster Family
Children can be in foster care for many reasons. They may be neglected, abused, or taken from their biological parents because of financial hardship. But for any child in the system, loving and caring Foster Parents are in high demand.

Dr. Valerie Sims, Administrator at the VBR Foster Family Agency at 72 W 11th Street, has the challenge of matching foster kids to the right foster family.

"We want the best parents we can find to help the children. I am the best administrator I can be so I want that in return from my Foster Parents," said Dr., Sims.

VBR Foster Family is in the process of enlarging their program to include A Gift Room, and a Conference and Training Room. The Gift Room is a room that will house donations for children.

"Many of these children are taken out of their homes and put into the system with nothing but the clothes on their back. I am creating a room with a "boutique" feel that they can come in and pick out some clothes, books, toiletries, school supplies, or anything else that might make them feel more secure," said Dr. Sims.

The Conference and Training Room will give VBR Foster Family Agency a chance to spread out when we hold the Foster Parent Orientation and Training sessions required to become a Foster Parent.

To become a Foster Parent, each applicant must complete 20 hours of training (provided by the Agency) which includes Child Abuse & Neglect Workshops. Each applicant must be fingerprinted, have a Criminal Background Check and be CPR/First Aid certified. Certified Foster Parents must complete 12 hours of training annually to maintain their certification. Foster Parents must also be loving, caring and understanding of these children who may have been bounced around the system and are understandably distrustful and wary of adults.

Once certified, Dr. Sims encourages Foster parents to work closely with her to have access to all resources available to them because help is out there.

"I make a point of not forgetting my Foster Parents. Being a Foster Parent isn't easy, but the rewards of being a positive role model to these children who haven’t had it easy in their young lives is invaluable," said Dr. Sims.

Who knows, maybe you're that someone who will give a child a chance to someday enjoy a happy and healthy home of their own.

For more information on donating or becoming Foster Parents, contact VBR Foster Family Agency at 72 W 11th Street or call 830-6394.

V.B.R. Foundation, Inc. is a Nonprofit 501-C3 Charitable Organization serving Children and Adults. We provide counseling, education, and referral services to families in crisis. We work with reunification of the family, and those that are in need of education or training.

As published in Inside Tracy magazine