Fostering Together set for May 21

Emily Wood knows that when people hear about foster care, it's often from a negative viewpoint. And because of that, she knows that people have fears about becoming a foster parent, asking a lot of questions that begin with "what if." These are questions Wood and her husband, Brandon, asked prior to becoming foster parents themselves.

"I was that person who did not want to be involved with foster parenting," she said. "I had a really negative view, but I also didn't know that much about it."

When the couple began trying to start a family, they faced infertility and several pregnancy losses. A teacher at the time, Wood's assistant mentioned foster care as an option.

"She called and said her Sunday School teacher knew someone who had a baby to place for adoption. Well, we learned soon that this wasn't a baby, but a four-year-old in foster care."

Wood's hesitancy came into play, and through the conversation about the child she offered to pray for him, and asked his name.

"His name was the only baby name we had picked out during all of our losses," she said. "I knew we were being called for this child."

The Woods, along with other foster families in the county and the Rutherford County Department of Social Services, have put together an event to provide more information about foster care in Rutherford County. Fostering Together will be held Saturday, May 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Second Baptist Church in Rutherfordton.

"My husband was in the car one day and mentioned to me that there are over 200 Christian churches in the county," Wood explained. "He said that if one family from every 10 churches could help take on these kids, how much better off would our community be."

According to the Rutherford County Department of Social Services, as of the end of April there were approximately 120 children in foster care. Children come into care in most cases due to abuse or neglect or because the parents are incarcerated or deceased, said Angela Black, foster home licensing social worker with Rutherford County DSS. The ultimate goal for children who come into care is for them to be reunified with their parents, and at least 75 percent of those do return home or to the home of a relative.

Currently there are 22 homes licensed for foster care, Black said, but only 15 of those are located inside county lines. There is always a need for more licensed homes, she said.

"Studies show our best recruitment for foster families is word of mouth," Black said, when discussing Fostering Together. To become a foster parent you have to be at least 21 years old, and there is no maximum age. Marital status and sexual orientation do not factor into who can be licensed, nor do you have to own your own home.

Even if you do not feel lead to become a foster parent, Wood said, there are other ways you can become involved.

"It can be something as simple as bringing a meal or babysitting," she said. "When we began fostering, our church was so supportive. People brought us clothes and toys - that was a blessing to us. When someone gets a new baby you do these things. But you don't always think to do them when someone gets a foster child."

Black's hope for Fostering Together is to increase the pool of families who can provide homes for children in foster care, and to provide information for those in attendance to decide if it's a journey they'd like to take.

"It's easy to have those fears," Wood said. "But when you put it into comparison of what that foster child is going through ... it pales. There is a really precious child in there, but someone has to take the time to find that.

"If I'd never done this I would've missed out on a big blessing."

For more information visit facebook.com/fosteringrutherford or contact Emily Wood at emilywood74@gmail.com.