Fayette County

is in need of foster parents.

Since June,

the number of local children in the state's custody has risen 38 percent.

There are currently 65 children in foster care here, and officials from

the Department of Families and Children Services are actively recruiting

potential foster parents.

"We're

having to place children out of the county, which is not in the best interests

of the children and families," said DFCS director Mary Davis.

It is important

for local foster children to stay in Fayette County so they can attend

the same school and visit regularly with their parents, said Debbie Schindler,

who coordinates the foster parenting program for DFCS.

"They

don't need just love," Schindler said. "They also need structure

and an environment where they can build up trust in adults."

To qualify

as foster parents, individuals must complete a 10-week preparation course

designed to show how to meet the special needs of foster children.

"We don't

want anybody to go into this without knowing what they're getting into,"

Schindler said. "These are not healthy, happy kids. They're coming

to us as the result of a very traumatic experience."

Schindler noted

that foster children aren't coming from ideal situations, so they come

with a different variety of problems than others. But DFCS helps foster

parents along, providing support such as counseling and arranging medical

treatment when needed, Davis said.

"It's

very much a partnership effort," Schindler said.

To qualify

as foster parents, applicants must undergo a criminal background check

and a financial background check, Schindler said. DFCS also checks applicants'

references and health background in addition to conducting a home visit

before placing foster children.

Foster parents

must also be prepared to handle children of any age from birth to 18 years,

Schindler said.

"We definitely

have a need for children of all ages, backgrounds and races," Schindler

said.

Foster parents

also get the first shot at permanently adopting their foster children

if the court decides the children should be adopted, which generally occurs

after the child's parents fail to meet guidelines established by the court

within 15 months.

For information

phone Schindler at 770-460-2567.