May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, and there are local efforts to advocate for those whose birth families are not around to do it for them.
For years, Pastor Rupert Henry has been championing for foster children at the church level through Foster Youth Connection, and through CarePortal, which partners church groups with the needs of foster children.
The efforts have worked to help reduce the number of foster youth in Osceola County, and earned recognition from the city of Kissimmee in the past.
“Kissimmee has stepped up in helping the cause,” he said, noting the city partnered with CarePortal late last year.
Prior to Tuesday’s Kissimmee City Commission meeting, Henry will hold an open forum at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. It will include an open-panel discussion about caring for the area’s foster children, a question-and-answer session with foster youth agencies, along with information from those groups.
The city is expected to offer up a proclamation for May 2022 as Foster Youth Connection Month in Kissimmee.
“Each year we try to add to the platform, because there are still needs not being met,” the pastor said.
“This platform, I hope, will get more people involved, to ask, ‘What can I do?’”
As part of Tuesday’s Foster Youth Connection gathering, all area churches and businesses are invited to select one day of worship in May as Foster Youth Connection Day.
Henry works at the faith-based level of churches. He represents Christian churches.
“But all faiths are welcome. Help is help,” he said. “Churches are a gathering point. It’s a time when you have the ear of dozens of families at a time.
“There is no group children’s home in Osceola County. There are families who graciously host children in their homes.”
Next week: See how another local organization is working to bring awareness to being a foster family during the month of May.
