Foster Florida plans to rapidly increase the number of eligible homes for vulnerable children

Javon L. Harris, The Gainesville Sun
·2 min read
Foster parents and representatives from various agencies attended a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training seminar in May at a Children in Crisis facility. The training prepares parents and adults for working with children, families and in systems of care impacted by trauma.
Foster parents and representatives from various agencies attended a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) training seminar in May at a Children in Crisis facility. The training prepares parents and adults for working with children, families and in systems of care impacted by trauma.

Alachua County is experiencing a little-known crisis that’s leaving vulnerable children stuck in a system that’s severely understaffed, advocates say.

At least 76 foster children in Gainesville have been locked out of stable households due to a lack of available foster homes. As a result, Florida’s system is becoming increasingly overburdened with too many vulnerable children, too few workers and fewer eligible families.

To help alleviate this problem, Foster Florida, a non-profit organization that recruits, equips, and retains strong foster families, has joined with Partnership for Strong Families to significantly reduce the time required for a mandatory course families must complete to qualify for a foster home license.

Partnership for Strong Families is a local agency that’s responsible for licensing foster families and facilitating foster care.

“In today’s world, people simply don’t have the time to commit to classes for 10 weeks,” Lacy Basford, director of Outreach and Co-Founder of Foster Florida, said. “So, we said ‘What can we do to still meet state statutes, but also trim it do and give people a course that will help them (qualify).’”

Dubbed Fast Track to Foster, the course has been cut to two and a half days and will be good for five years. This will allow families to become licensed even if they’re not ready to immediately take in a child.

With thousands of former adoptees already in foster care, at least 66,577 children ended up in the foster care system between 2008 and 2020.
With thousands of former adoptees already in foster care, at least 66,577 children ended up in the foster care system between 2008 and 2020.

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Six more families will be permitted in June 2-4 course

The accelerated course runs from June 2–4 and includes a full day of meals and childcare for participants.

“We want no hurdles for families being able to come,” Basford said. “If this goes well, our hope is that we can do this kind of fast track again in the next year to increase the number of licensed families in our area.”

Currently there are 44 families registered for Fast Track to Foster. Although the registration deadline has passed, Basford said they will accommodate an additional six families.

“If someone is interested in joining this class, they could email me directly. If there isn’t a spot available, we can certainly keep them up to date as when the next class will be.”

Basford said that even if a family isn’t able to commit to foster a child now, there is a place for them to serve.

“By teaming up and joining the volunteer effort of Foster Florida, you can still support foster families through many ways, including meals, childcare and supplies.”

For more information on registration, email Foster Florida at lacy@fosterflorida.org.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Foster Florida teams up with DCF to streamline mandatory foster course