May is national foster care month, which gives foster agencies and child services a chance to raise awareness about the needs of the foster system.
In any given month, Erie county has 400 kids in out-of-home foster care.
Danielle Szlenski, the vice president of programs with family services, says the most common reason a child is pulled from a home is not deliberate abuse, but because of neglect.
"The majority of what we see are families who are struggling," said Szlenski. "They do not intend to harm their child."
Britni Burlingham with Erie child services says the causes behind this neglect are often substance abuse and/or mental illness.
"So when you think of struggling with the barriers that come with substance abuse and that come with mental health, most families are struggling with financial stability," said Burlingham. "They can't maintain a job. Which in turn means they can't maintain housing because they can't pay for it. They also can't get food for their children and clothing."
In foster care, taking a child out of a home is not the first solution-- and the goal of intervention is to reunite families.
"We can get into the home and get [the family] the help they need," said Burlingham. "Because it does not necessarily mean we are going in to take their children. It means we're going to go in and see what we can do to support the family first."
Foster Families
When child services comes in, parents get a case plan that lays out expectations for how they can improve. When children can't stay in the home while their parents recover, foster care offers a safe place for children to stay until they can be reunited with family.
For the 400 kids in out-of-home care in Erie County, there are only around 170 licensed foster families. Agencies across the region have confirmed this is not enough families to properly care for all the children in the system.
Several events are taking place this month in an effort to celebrate current families and share information with those interested in getting certified. Foster Erie is hosting their annual Craft Fair & Awareness Event on May 20th from 9am-1pm. Family Services is hosting their Bowl For Kids' Sake event on May 12 & May 19 starting at 5:30 on both Friday's. Families United Network will be at the Experience Children's Museum also on May 20 from 10am-1pm.
Becoming a foster family requires research into if the lifestyle fits your family.
"You have to have thick skin," said Jennifer Cagnoli, a foster parent with Family Services. She shared that fostering comes with its highs... and lows.
"The high of the experience is its very rewarding to be a foster parent. To be able to support the bio parents while they get their stuff together what is needed from the courts for them," said Cagnoli. "The con is sometimes watching the parents fail and still having this child in your home, and knowing that they're actually losing a parent in a sense."
Cagnoli shared that her and her wife can foster well because they have solid family supports.
For family's not ready to tackle foster care, there are still many other ways to keep kids safe.
"I think if you can reach out and help a family in need, if you know of something, if you know what's going on in community, just see what you can do," said Burlingham. "Even just donating clothing, donating food, donating your time. Taking a kid to school. Supporting each other I think is one of the biggest things we can be doing as a community to help keep families out of the situations leading them where they are."
Foster care is here to keep children safe. With COVID-19 supports ending, families are still adjusting to less resources. Anyone who feels overwhelmed can reach out to child services and local foster licensing companies to connect with resources and education.
"There's no blaming or shaming," said Szlenski. "We would love to reach out to people before things get so stressful that it results in child maltreatment. So there is help available. If people are aware and want to reach out."