Where will the children go?

Sunday, October 8, 2006

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Donna Haendigef and her husband have cared for more than 100 foster children the past 16 years.

During the last 16 years, Donna Haendigef has heard the pitter patter of more than 100 different pairs of children's feet run through her home.

That's her estimate for the number of foster children she and her husband have cared for through the years.

"It's worth it, I love doing it," Haendigef said. "Both my husband and I feel like we've been called to do this."

But according to the Citrus County Foster Parent Association, fewer people are becoming foster parents in Citrus County.

"Right now we have more foster children than we have foster families, and we need more families so that we can house more children in this county," said William Harrigan, president of the Citrus County Foster Parent Association (CCFPA).

Harrigan blames the imbalance on everything from frustration with the system to foster parents retiring.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) said it's hard to gather

CCFPA's William Harrigan said the county has more foster children than foster families.

solid numbers. Harrigan said he estimates throughout the year 25-30 percent of foster children in Citrus County are being sent to foster families elsewhere in the state, putting extra strain on an already fragile situation.

"These children need to be with their friends, they need to be in their own schools," Harrigan said.

But to do that, Harrigan is looking for more foster families. Families willing to care for kids that usually come from rough circumstances.

"My advice would be, go into it if you're doing it for the kids because it's definitely worth it," Haendigef said. "It's not always easy. It is hard at times, but its definitely worth it."

According to the Citrus County Foster Parent Association, some children from Citrus are being sent as far away as Seminole and Orange counties to foster homes.

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