FOSTER CARE SHORTAGE.

DUE TO AN INCREASE IN METH AND OTHER DRUG-RELATED CRIMES, THE CHILDREN ARE OFTEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH FAMILIES OPENING UP THEIR HOMES.

COMING UP NEXT ON "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS," WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR STATE'S FOSTER CARE CRISIS.

OUR EXPERTS WILL BREAK DOWN THE ISSUE, EXPLAIN WHAT AREAS ACROSS THE STATE ARE IN NEED OF MORE FAMILIES, AND WHAT WE CAN ALL DO TO HELP.

THAT'S "FOSTER CARE IN SOUTH DAKOTA" ON TONIGHT'S "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS" AND WE ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW.

>> THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

♪ >> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS," I'M STEPHANIE RISSLER.

TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE FOSTER CARE SHORTAGE ACROSS THE STATE.

THE GREATEST NEED IS FOR SIBLING GROUPS, TEENAGERS, NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH FAMILIES OPENING UP THEIR HOMES FOR THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR FOSTER CARE.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION TONIGHT, YOU CAN EMAIL OR TEXT IT TO ME.

THE EMAIL ADDRESS IS [email protected] AND OUR PHONE NUMBER TO SEND A TEXT IS 956-7372.

THAT'S 956-SDPB.

NOW LET'S MEET OUR GUESTS.

FIRST UP, VIRGINIA WISHARD LAMBERT, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WITH THE ABBOTT HOUSE OUT OF MITCHELL.

ALSO HERE, VIRGENA WIESELER, WHO SERVES AS CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES DIVISION DIRECTOR WITH THE SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

ALSO HERE, ONDREA PATZLAFF, THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH THE CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY.

LAST, AMY WITT, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF YOUTH SERVICES WITH LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES.

WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

MAN, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT SO WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED HERE.

I'M GOING TO START OVER HERE, VIRGINIA, WITH YOU.

YOU EACH COME TO VERMILLION TONIGHT TO REALLY TALK ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS, WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER AND THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE ABBOTT HOUSE.

>> SO, THE ABBOTT HOUSE STARTED, ACTUALLY, IN 1939, SO THIS YEAR'S OUR 80th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

WE REALLY STARTED OUT AS A GROUP HOME AND FUNCTIONED SINCE THEN IN MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA, REALLY PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.

AND ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, WE REALIZED THAT CHILDREN WERE STAYING AT THE ABBOTT HOUSE FOR LONGER AND LONGER PERIODS OF TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLACE ELSE FOR THEM TO GO.

THEY'D FINISHED THEIR TREATMENT PROGRAM BUT HAD NO OTHER OPTION, NO APPROPRIATE FAMILY FOR THEM TO GO TO, PERHAPS FALLING INTO ONE OF THE CATEGORIES THAT YOU LISTED.

>> YEAH.

>> SO AT THAT POINT, WE STARTED A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOME TO HELP PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THOSE STUDENTS AND A FAMILY AND A PLACE FOR THEM TO GROW UP OUTSIDE OF A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM.

AND SINCE THEN WE'VE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED FIVE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOMES AND ALSO AN INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM SO THAT ONCE CHILDREN GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL OR LEAVE THEIR FOSTER HOME, THEY CAN MOVE INTO AN INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENT THAT STILL PROVIDES SOME SUPPORT AND A CHANCE FOR THEM TO LEARN HOW TO PRACTICE ADULTING, AS THEY TELL US, LEARN HOW TO JUST BECOME A YOUNG ADULT, YOU KNOW, LIVE EACH DAY GOING TO WORK OR GOING TO SCHOOL, BALANCE THEIR CHECKBOOK, LEARN HOW TO REALLY -- EVEN THOUGH WE TEACH A LOT OF THAT AT THE ABBOTT HOUSE, IT'S A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU GET YOUR FIRST PAYCHECK AND YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT WORK WHEN WHAT YOU'D REALLY LIKE TO DO IS GO GET YOUR HAIR COLORED.

DO SOME OF OWES OTHER THINGS.

-- DO SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS.

SO BASICALLY THREE AREAS OF SERVICE NOW IS WHAT THE ABBOTT HOUSE HAS, THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING.

AND WE SERVE CHILDREN AGES 7 TO 23.

>> OKAY.

AND I MENTIONED YOU'RE OUT OF MITCHELL, BUT YOU SERVE CHILDREN ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE, IS THIS RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YUP.

ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE SOUTH DAKOTA CHILDREN, BUT THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE STAYS.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ABBOTT HOUSE AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE HOUR.

ONDREA, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THE CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY ALSO DOING GREAT WORK FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS ACROSS OUR STATE.

SAME QUESTION.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THE SERVICES YOU'RE PROVIDING.

>> SURE.

ACTUALLY CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY JUST CELEBRATED IT'S 125th ANNIVERSARY LAST YEAR, SO WE'RE THE OLDEST NONPROFIT IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

WE REALLY STARTED AS AN ORPHANAGE FOR CHILDREN, CHILDREN WOULD ACTUALLY COME WEST AND WERE LOOKING FOR FAMILIES.

AND, SO, THE SHIRARD FAMILY ACTUALLY BEGAN PLACING CHILDREN IN THIS AREA 125 YEARS AGO.

REALLY INVOLVED INTO RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT KIND OF IN THE '80s WITH THE RECOGNITION THAT THERE WAS JUST NEED FOR A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICES FOR KIDS WHEN FOSTER CARE KIND OF TOOK OVER FROM ORPHANAGES.

CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY HAS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT SERVE FOSTER CHILDREN.

WE HAVE CHILDREN'S INN, WHICH IS THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN SHELTER, SOMETIMES CHILDREN WILL COME THERE, MAYBE IT'S AN EMERGENT PLACEMENT WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR A FOSTER FAMILY.

WE ALSO HAVE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN 4 TO 14.

AND IT'S CHILDREN GENERALLY IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WHO JUST NEED A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL NEEDS, EXPERIENCED TRAUMA.

AND, SO, THAT'S A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN LIVE AND GO TO SCHOOL AND HAVE INPATIENT THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES PROGRAM, AND THAT HAS -- WE HAVE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, WE'RE A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, WE TRAIN AND LICENSE OUR OWN THERAPEUTIC FAMILIES.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING THERAPY INTO THE HOME, INTO THE SCHOOL FOR THOSE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR PRIDE PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUR CONTRACT WITH THE STATE WHERE WE TRAIN AND LICENSE BASIC FOSTER FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> OKAY.

>> SO THOSE ARE REALLY THE PROGRAMS THAT TOUCH FOSTER CARE CHILDREN.

>> AND YOU'RE SERVICING CHILDREN ALL ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL?

>> ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

EXCUSE ME.

ALL ACROSS THE STATE, YES.

I'M IN SIOUX FALLS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A RAPID CITY CAMPUS AND BLACK HILLS CAMPUS.

>> VERY GOOD.

I WANT TO GO TO VIRGENA WIESELER, AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO BUTCHER YOUR NAME, WE HAVE A VIRGINIA AND VIRGENA ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING ON.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOSTER CARE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

I WAS UNAWARE OF ALL OF THE MOVING PIECES THAT GO ALONG WITH THIS.

I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE TO HELP SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON A STATEWIDE BASIS.

SO FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, YOU, PARTICULAR, WITH CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR DIVISION'S ROLE AND WHAT YOU OFFER?

>> THANK YOU, STEPHANIE.

I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT CHILD PROTECTION AND ABOUT FOSTER CARE.

THE DIVISION IS REALLY THE ENTRY POINT FOR CHILDREN INTO THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.

SO, WE RECEIVE REPORTS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT REGARDING CHILDREN.

WE INTERVENE WITH FAMILIES WHEN THEIR CHILDREN, THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN BEING SAFE.

WE TRY -- OUR GOAL ALWAYS IS TO KEEP THE CHILD WITH THEIR FAMILY, AND IF THEY HAVE TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS, THEN OUR GOAL IS TO REUNITE THAT CHILD WITH THAT FAMILY.

AND FOR CHILDREN REMOVED, THAT HAPPENS ABOUT 72% OF THE TIME WITHIN THAT FIRST YEAR ONCE THEY'RE REMOVED.

SO, WE PROVIDE INTERVENTION SERVICES, REFERRALS OUT TO SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

WHEN CHILDREN DO COME INTO CARE, WE HAVE TO HAVE PLACEMENT.

OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS KINSHIP, AND IF RELATIVES AREN'T AVAILABLE OR AREN'T APPROPRIATE, THEN WE LOOK TO FOSTER CARE.

AND AS ONDREA SAID, WE CONTRACT WITH CHILDREN'S HOME TO DO THAT TRAINING FOR PROSPECTIVE FOSTER PARENTS AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

SO WE, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES OF CHILDREN ENTERING, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY THROUGH ADOPTION OF CHILDREN OR RETURN HOME OR OTHER PERMANENCY OPTIONS.

SO WE PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE 19 OFFICES.

WHERE WE PROVIDE OUR SERVICES.

>> OKAY.

VERY GOOD.

AMY, WITH LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES.

THE FOLKS AT LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES, THEY'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

BUT I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ROLE WITH THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES AND HOW IT RELATES TO OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU, STEPHANIE, FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.

WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE.

LIKE YOU SAID, LLS HAS MANY SERVICES THAT SERVE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA AND WE DO HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING AN OPTION IN FOSTER CARE SERVICES AS WELL.

IN REGARD TO ADOPTION SERVICES, WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL INFANT ADOPTION, INCLUDING BIRTH PARENT COUNSELING FOR THOSE FIRST-TIME PARENTS WHO MAY BE CONSIDERING AN ADOPTION PLAN OR POTENTIALLY A FOSTER PLAN.

IN REGARD TO FOSTER PLAN, WE PROVIDE TREATMENT IN SPECIALIZED LEVEL FOSTER CARE TO YOUTH FROM ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA, WITH OUR FOSTER FAMILIES RESIDING PRIMARILY IN THE SIOUX FALLS AND RAPID CITY AREA.

WE LICENSE AND TRAIN OUR FAMILIES IN ABOUT A 60-MILE RADIUS OF THAT SIOUX FALLS AND RAPID CITY AREA.

>> OKAY.

I'M GOING TO STICK WITH YOU, THEN I'M GOING TO GO VIRGENA NEXT.

GOVERNOR NOEM SPECIFICALLY BROUGHT THIS UP DURING HER STATE OF THE STATE, WHICH IS WHEN IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT YOU THOUGHT WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP.

>> YEAH, WELL, I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO HEAR GOVERNOR NOEM MENTION FOSTER CARE IN HER ADDRESS.

TO REALLY BRING ATTENTION TO THAT.

IT'S EXCITING THAT THIS IS A FOCUS TO HER.

REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THAT MEANS FOR CHILDREN IN OUR STATE GOING FORWARD IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT UP DURING HER STATE OF THE STATE?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT IT, BUT REALLY JUST VERY PLEASED TO HEAR HER BRING IT UP.

I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SOMETHING SHE CARES VERY MUCH ABOUT.

AND, SO, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE HER INCLUDE THAT IN HER ADDRESS.

>> OKAY.

SO, VIRGENA, YOU COME TO IT FROM THE STATE'S PERSPECTIVE.

TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, AND WAS IT SOMETHING THAT SHE HAD TALKED TO YOUR DIVISION ABOUT BEFOREHAND?

>> WELL, AS AMY SAID, I WAS EXTREMELY PLEASED TO HEAR GOVERNOR NOEM'S STATE OF THE STATE AND THE FOCUS THAT SHE WAS GOING TO PUT ON NEEDING FOSTER FAMILIES AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AROUND THE STATE.

SHE'S VERY COMMITTED TO STRONG, HEALTHY FAMILIES IN SOUTH DAKOTA, AND I THINK HER STATE OF THE STATE, YOU KNOW, WAS VERY FOCUSED ON THAT.

SO TO HEAR WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO AND EVERY SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT THAT SHE HAS, THAT SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR FOSTER PARENTS AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS, AND I'VE HEARD PEOPLE IN PIERRE THAT HAVE HEARD HER AT CERTAIN EVENTS AND SHE'S BRINGING IT UP EVERY TIME.

>> WELL, HERE WE ARE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.

YEAH.

SO, ONDREA, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU.

I WANT TO GET A BETTER IDEA, WE'VE SAID WE'RE SEEING A FOSTER CARE SHORTAGE ACROSS THE STATE.

LET'S TALK IN MORE DETAIL.

WHAT KIND OF NEEDS ARE WE SEEING?

WHAT DO THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE?

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REALLY TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE NEED IS ALWAYS THERE.

IT REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT THROUGHOUT THE STATE JUST THE NEED FOR CONTINUED FOSTER FAMILIES.

YOU KNOW, FAMILIES ARE ALWAYS TRAINED, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CLASSES REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WE EVEN TRY TO REACH PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY IF WE NEED TO GO TO THEIR HOME AND DO ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING.

AND WE'VE ALSO TRIED TO MAKE TRAINING EASIER FOR FAMILIES.

WE HAVE SOME IN-PERSON, BUT ALSO ONLINE OPTIONS AS WELL.

SO, WE TRY TO GET -- REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES.

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEED IS JUST THERE IN OUR STATE.

THERE'S A VARIETY OF REASONS FOR THAT.

ADDICTION CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE WITH ALCOHOL AND METH USE.

YOU KNOW, REALLY FOSTER CARE, IT'S A PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO GO WHILE THEIR FAMILY IS HEALING WITH THE GOAL OF REUNIFICATION.

AND OUR HOPE IS TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE AWARE OF THAT AS POSSIBLE.

>> CAN YOU SAY IF YOU'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR MORE FAMILIES OVER THE LAST HANDFUL OF YEARS?

>> YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF OUR THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, I KNOW THAT I GET CALLS REGULARLY FOR SERVICES FOR CHILDREN THAT I JUST DON'T HAVE FAMILIES FOR.

>> OKAY.

HAVE YOU ALL HAD AN INCREASE IN NEED FOR MORE FAMILIES?

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE.

SO, VIRGENA, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHY WE ARE SEEING THAT INCREASE, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING WITHIN CHILD PROTECTION IS THE METH EPIDEMIC.

THE METH EPIDEMIC, HAS JUST SHATTERED SO MANY FAMILIES AND THOSE CHILDREN NEED TO BE SAFE.

SO WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE SEEKING TREATMENT OR, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THEIR ADDICTION, THOSE CHILDREN HAVE TO BE PLACED.

SO IT'S EITHER RELATIVE OR FOSTER CARE.

AND I THINK THE SHORTAGE PIECE, THERE'S A SHORTAGE STATEWIDE BUT WHEN A CHILD CAN'T BE PLACED, SAY, IN RAPID CITY BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE 99 FOSTER HOMES, THEN THAT CHILD HAS TO LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITY, THEIR SCHOOL, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR CHURCH, THEIR CULTURE, SOMETIMES, TO MOVE ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE AN OPENING.

SO REALLY FOCUSING ON COMMUNITIES AND FOCUSING ON THE TYPES OF FAMILIES THAT WE NEED.

AS YOU SAID, SIBLING GROUPS, NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN, CHILDREN WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, COMPLEX MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

>> OKAY.

>> SIBLING GROUPS IS A HUGE, HUGE PIECE OF THAT.

>> OKAY.

THAT WAS MY NEXT FOLLOW-UP WAS, YOU KNOW, AS I INDICATED, THERE'S SOME PARTICULAR GROUPS, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THOSE GROUPS ARE STILL THE SAME.

JUST A REMINDER TO THOSE WATCHING AT HOME, WE ARE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR COMMENTS.

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HOUR, YOU CAN SEND THOSE DIRECTLY TO ME ON THE SET.

YOU CAN TEXT ME AT 956-7372, AGAIN, THAT'S 956-SDPB.

YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL ME, [email protected].

I'M GOING TO COME BACK OVER HERE TO YOU, VIRGINIA, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS AND WHAT CHANGES YOU'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF FOSTER CARE NEEDS.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK OVER THE LAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESEARCH IN GENERAL, IT'S REALLY SHOWN THAT CHILDREN DO MUCH BETTER IF THEY CAN BE IN A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.

AND THE SOONER THAT WE CAN GET THEM TO THAT ENVIRONMENT, THE BETTER IT IS.

FROM AN ABBOTT HOUSE PERSPECTIVE, WE WORK A LOT WITH VIRGENA AND THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND I THINK MORE AND MORE THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO TRY TO KEEP CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, IN PLACEMENT AS SHORT TERM AS POSSIBLE AND REALLY HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HELPING ABBOTT HOUSE EXPAND THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE SERVICES FOR KIDS THAT NEED IT THAT HAD BEEN CAUGHT IN OUR PROGRAM OR IN OTHER PROGRAMS.

AND REALLY TRYING TO JUST OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.

>> SO, VIRGENA, FROM THE STATEWIDE LEVEL LOOKING DOWN, WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MAIN CHANGES YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE CHANGES, THERE'S A FOCUS, I THINK, FROM ALL OF US IS REALLY LOOKING AT HOW TRAUMA IMPACTS CHILDREN AND THE TRAUMA -- THEY COME INTO FOSTER CARE, OFTEN, WITH TRAUMATIC EVENTS IN THEIR PAST.

AND THEN THAT REMOVAL IS ANOTHER TRAUMATIC EVENT.

AND EVERY TIME THEY HAVE TO MOVE FROM FOSTER HOME TO FOSTER HOME OR TO A GROUP CARE IS ANOTHER TRAUMATIC EVENT.

AND, SO, REALLY LOOKING AT ALL OF US AND ALL OF THE TREATMENT PROVIDERS TO REALLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT TREATMENT AND THAT IT'S FOCUSED AND IT'S TRAUMA INFORMED SO THAT WE'RE NOT DOING MORE DAMAGE TO CHILDREN.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE STARTING TO GET SOME EMAILS AND SOME TEXTS THAT ARE COMING IN.

AND A LOT OF FOLKS, WELL, AT LEAST THE FEW THAT I'VE SEEN HERE, THEY WANT SPECIFIC ANSWERS ABOUT HOW TO BECOME FOSTER PARENTS AND SOME QUALIFICATIONS.

SO I'LL ASK THIS FIRST ONE.

ARE THERE AGE LIMITS OR SUGGESTED LIMITS TO BE A FOSTER PARENT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE ONLY AGE LIMIT IS YOU NEED TO BE 21 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S REALLY THE AGE LIMIT ON THERE.

WE HAVE FOSTER PARENTS AS YOUNG AS 21 AND INTO RETIRED AGE.

SO, REALLY, THAT'S THE ONLY AGE QUALIFICATION.

>> OKAY.

ANOTHER QUESTION THAT CAME IN.

WHAT KIND OF FOLLOW-UP IS DONE WITH CHILDREN WHO ENTER INTO FOSTER CARE AND THEN RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IS MAINTAINED AND CONTINUED BACK AT HOME?

SO I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO TAKE THAT.

YEAH.

>> IS I'LL TRY AND ANSWER THAT, AND THEN WE CAN JUMP IN.

BUT WHEN CHILDREN ARE PLACED, WHETHER IT'S FOSTER CARE, GROUP CARE, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FROM CHILD PROTECTION, OUR STAFF ARE IN THOSE FAMILIES, ARE IN THOSE FACILITIES ONCE A MONTH, AT LEAST.

AND IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, IT MIGHT BE MORE THAN ONCE A MONTH.

OUR STAFF, DID OVER 17,000 VISITS LAST YEAR TO KIDS IN PLACEMENT.

AND THEN WHEN THEY DO GO HOME, WE ALSO, WHAT WE CALL, TRIAL REUNIFICATION SO, WE'RE GOING BACK INTO THE HOME, WITH THE PARENTS, WITH THE CHILD, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED TO ALL THEIR TREATMENT RESOURCES, THAT SCHOOL IS GOING OKAY, THAT THEY NEED THE SERVICES THAT THEY -- IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN SAFE.

>> HOW LONG DOES THAT TRIAL REUNIFICATION LAST?

IS IT YOU GO AND VISIT A COUPLE TIMES?

IS IT A YEAR LONG?

>> IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE CASE, BUT WHAT WE LOOK AT IS MAYBE A SIX-MONTH PERIOD OF TIME.

>> OKAY.

AND THEN FOR EACH OF YOUR AGENCIES, IS IT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE WITH DSS IN TERMS OF FOLLOW-UP?

I MEAN, AMY, WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO?

>> WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON OUR PLACEMENTS AND MOST OF THESE WE WORK WITH ARE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, WE ALSO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND TRIBAL AGENCIES AS WELL.

BUT WHEN THOSE YOUTH ARE RETURNING TO THEIR HOME OR WITH THEIR FAMILY OR WITH RELATIVES, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE WORKER THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE VISITS ARE HAPPENING.

OUR STAFF WILL DO FOLLOW-UP AND CHECK IN AS WELL TO MAKE SURE YOUTH AND THOSE FAMILIES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES.

>> OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR METHOD OR IS IT KIND OF ABOUT THE SAME?

>> YEAH.

IT'S REALLY SIMILAR.

>> SIMILAR.

>> OKAY.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING IN.

SO WE'LL ASK THOSE AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE HOUR.

SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REACH OUT TO US TONIGHT.

ONDREA, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU FIRST.

WHEN SOMEONE'S THINKING ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS FAMILIES CONSIDER OR MAYBE THEY SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE THEY MAKE THAT DECISION?

>> REALLY, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT IS CONSIDERING HOW IT WILL IMPACT YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.

SO, NOT JUST YOURSELF OR YOUR SPOUSE, BUT ALSO YOUR CHILDREN.

IT REALLY IS A -- A FOSTER FAMILY IS BEING A FOSTER FAMILY, IT'S AN ENTIRE FAMILY THAT COMES TOGETHER.

AND THERE IS AN IMPACT ON THE FAMILY SYSTEM.

SO JUST BEING AWARE OF THAT.

WE REALLY DO TRY TO HELP EDUCATE FAMILIES ON THAT AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND MAKE SURE THE FAMILIES ARE INFORMED.

BUT MAKING SURE YOUR KIDS ARE INVOLVED IN THAT DISCUSSION IS A BIG PIECE OF IT.

>> SO, VIRGINIA, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT IF A FAMILY CAME TO YOU AND THEY'RE CONSIDERING THIS, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU TELL THEM?

THESE ARE WHAT YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT.

>> SO THE STRUCTURE OF THE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOME FOR ABBOTT HOUSE IS PERHAPS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY TRAIN OUR FAMILIES AS WELL, BUT WE HIRE THEM AND THEY LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT WE PROVIDE THEM.

SO WE PROVIDE THE VEHICLES.

USUALLY THE CHILDREN COME FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES OR CORRECTIONS AND THIS COUPLE COMES TO US, WE HIRE THEM TO LIVE IN A HOUSE WITH OUR CHILDREN AND THEN WE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL THERAPY, RESPITE TIME FOR THE PARENTS, VACATION TIME, BENEFITS.

SO THEY LIVE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, BUT THEY ALSO GET SOME TIME OFF.

SO IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER FOSTER SITUATIONS IN THAT WE WILL TAKE A COUPLE THAT ACTUALLY HAS ONE CHILD OF THEIR OWN AND -- BUT TYPICALLY WE DON'T TAKE IF THEY HAVE TWO OR THREE CHILDREN BECAUSE WE HAVE HOMES THAT ARE BUILT TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, THE SPACE AND THE BEDROOMS FOR CHILDREN THAT NEED A FAMILY AND A HOME TO GO TO.

>> OKAY.

>> A LITTLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN WHAT THE OTHER PROGRAMS ARE.

JUST ESPECIALLY FOR HARD TO PLACE CHILDREN, CHILDREN THAT MAYBE HAVE A FEW MORE CHALLENGES THAN OTHER KIDS IN THE SYSTEM.

BUT I WILL ALSO SAY THAT EVEN IF WE ARE LOOKING AT A FAMILY, WE WANT THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT , YOU KNOW, IS THIS A FIT FOR YOU?

WE LET THEM SHADOW OUR FAMILIES THAT ARE DOING THE WORK RIGHT NOW TO SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THEY'D REALLY BE INTERESTED IN.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE I KNOW WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THERAPEUTIC CARE.

AND, AMY, OVER AT LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES, YOU ALSO HAVE A THERAPEUTIC CARE PROGRAM.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, OURS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT ABBOTT HOUSE DESCRIBED IN THAT OUR THERAPEUTIC HOMES ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE LIVING IN THEIR COMMUNITY IN THEIR OWN HOMES THAT WE ARE GOING TO THEIR HOME TO LICENSE AND DO THAT HOME STUDY PIECE OF IT.

SO OUR FAMILIES ARE TRAINED AT A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT -- HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING, A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF TRAINING THAN A BASIC FOSTER HOME LIKE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

SO THEY'RE ABLE TO BE LICENSED AT THAT HIGHER LEVEL AND TREATMENT LEVEL CARE AND HAVE ADDITIONAL SKILLS TO WORK WITH YOUTH THAT HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL BEHAVIORAL OR EMOTIONAL NEEDS, DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS, SOMETIMES MEDICAL NEEDS.

SO WE HELP THEM GET THOSE ADDITIONAL SKILLS SO THEY CAN WORK WITH THEM IN THEIR HOME AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> OKAY.

VERY GOOD.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A VIDEO HERE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

WE'VE GOT LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING IN AS WELL.

BEFORE I DO, ONDREA, TALK TO US, TREATMENT FOSTER CARE.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE WHAT THAT IS?

>> SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE THROUGH CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY.

AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, IT'S ACTUALLY VERY SIMILAR TO LSS, IT'S FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOMES, THEY GO THROUGH THE SAME BASIC FOSTER CARE TRAINING AS A BASIC STATE FAMILY WOULD, BUT THEN WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING THAT THEY GO THROUGH.

SO WE DO A LOT OF EDUCATION ON GRIEF AND LOSS, A LOT OF EDUCATION ON DIFFERENT PARENTING STYLES, TRAUMA FOCUSED, AND THEN WE HAVE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE THERAPISTS WHO CAN GO INTO THE HOME, INTO THE SCHOOLS AND WORK WITH THE FAMILIES AND PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY FOR THOSE KIDS.

SO, GENERALLY, THE CHILDREN IN OUR THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF MAYBE EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL NEEDS, MAYBE THEY'RE STEPPING OUT OF RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT OR WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING TO ARE RESIDENTIAL.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS THAT YOU PROVIDE.

IF SOMEBODY WANTED SOME INFORMATION, THEY COULD CALL YOU AND YOU GUYS COULD WALK THEM THROUGH THAT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPECIALIZED FOSTER CARE, WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT'S THAT KIND OF IN BETWEEN LEVEL BETWEEN BASIC THERAPEUTIC CARE AND THE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE THAT THE OTHER AGENCIES ARE PROVIDING.

SO THIS MAY BE A CHILD WHO COMES INTO CARE THAT MIGHT HAVE A FEEDING TUBE OR AN APNEA MONITOR.

SO, THAT FAMILY RECEIVES ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO DEAL WITH THAT PARTICULAR THING.

AND THERE'S NOT MULTIPLE ISSUES OR BEHAVIOR, EMOTIONAL ISSUES THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH, BUT A PARTICULAR MEDICAL ISSUE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> SO, IF THERE IS A PARENT THAT WANTS TO BECOME A FOSTER CARETAKER FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION, THEY WILL BE TRAINED AND THEY'LL BE GIVEN THE TOOLS AND THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT PROPERLY IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AS WE'VE LEARNED, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT REASONS A CHILD MAY FIND THEMSELVES NEEDING A FOSTER FAMILY AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARE.

THE ABBOTT HOUSE OUT OF MITCHELL SHARED THE STORY OF A YOUNG LADY THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP NAMED CHEROKEE.

A LETTER SHE WROTE WHILE IN THE CARE OF THE ABBOTT HOUSE RESULTED IN ADDITIONAL FOSTER CARE OPTIONS.

HERE'S PART OF HER STORY.

>> MAY 17th, 2013, DEAR GOD, PLEASE HELP ME.

I'M SCARED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I DON'T HAVE A FAMILY, NO HOME BESIDES ABBOTT HOUSE, AND I FEEL UNLOVED.

ABANDONED.

PLEASE HELP ME, LORD.

PLEASE SEND ME SOMEONE TO LOVE ME AND I CAN LOVE BACK.

ANYONE.

I WOULD PREFER TO KNOW THE PERSON BEFORE, BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT IF I DON'T.

AMEN.

LOVE CHEROKEE.

>> CHEROKEE'S LETTER BEGAN WITH A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT RESULTED IN ABBOTT HOUSE CREATING TWO PROFESSIONAL THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOMES IN MITCHELL.

CHEROKEE WAS THE FIRST GIRL PLACED IN THE FIRST HOME THAT WAS OPENED AS PART OF THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED BRIDGES PROGRAM.

SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE SERVED MANY YOUNG LADIES AND HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES IN RAPID CITY.

♪ >> WHEN I CAME TO THE ABBOTT HOUSE I WAS, LIKE, BROKEN, I WAS MESSED UP.

YOU KNOW, I SELF-HARMED, I ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, I WOULD ATTACK PEOPLE, I WOULD HURT PEOPLE A LOT, AND THE ABBOTT HOUSE LET ME KNOW THAT IT WAS OKAY TO HAVE BEEN IN PAIN BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, YOU KNOW, AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT IT WAS OKAY TO CRY, IT WAS OKAY TO BE HURT AND TO HEAL, YOU KNOW, AND TO NOT BE OKAY.

I'D BEEN SELF-HARMING, I'D BEEN ATTEMPTING SUICIDE.

I TRULY BELIEVE -- LIKE I'VE BEEN HFC, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE STILL BEEN ATTEMPTING SUICIDE AFTER I CAME BACK FROM HFC.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF.

♪ >> I KEEP IN TOUCH WITH A LOT OF THE GIRLS THROUGH FACEBOOK.

AND I THINK I CAN THINK OF THREE OR FOUR OF THEM THAT I'VE GONE TO SECONDARY EDUCATION AND PURSUING CAREERS.

AND A LOT OF THE THINGS GARY WOULD ALWAYS TELL THE GIRLS IN THE HOME WAS, IF YOU CAN LEARN ONE THING, HE SAYS, WHEN YOU'RE A MOM, -- >> HANG ON TO YOUR KIDS.

[ Laughter ] >> YEAH.

AND WE CAN THINK OF SEVERAL GIRLS, A LOT OF OUR GIRLS, YEAH, THEY'RE GOOD MOMS AND THEY'VE GOT -- AND THEY'VE GOT LITTLE KIDS AT HOME AND THEY ARE LOYAL AND DEDICATED TO BEING THE BEST MOM THEY CAN.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT MAKES US HAPPY.

>> YEAH.

♪ >> AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO VIRGINIA AND THE FOLKS AT THE ABBOTT HOUSE FOR LETTING US SHOW THAT STORY.

YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER YOURSELVES.

>> WE DID.

YEAH.

>> THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE REACHING OUT TO US FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE.

VIRGENA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

CAN SOMEONE HAVE A MISDEMEANOR DRUG CHARGE IN THE PAST AND BECOME A FOSTER PARENT?

>> YES.

STATE STATUTE SAYS THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE A FELONY CONVICTION WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

AND WE WOULD LOOK AT ANY TYPE OF CONVICTION TO LOOK AT WHAT IT WAS FOR, WHEN IT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, HAVE THERE BEEN TREATMENT OR THINGS LIKE THAT SINCE THAT TIME.

SO IT WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY RULE SOMEBODY OUT.

>> OKAY.

EARLIER SOMEBODY HAD WROTE IN AND THEY ASKED ABOUT AN AGE.

YOU KNOW, CAN YOU BE A CERTAIN AGE, OR HOW YOUNG DO YOU HAVE TO BE?

A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION CAME IN.

THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ISN'T THERE AN AGE GAP THAT HAS TO BE MAINTAINED BETWEEN THE ADOPTEE AND THE ADOPTED?

SO, ONDREA, YOU TOOK THE LAST QUESTION.

WHAT CAN YOU ANSWER ABOUT THIS ONE?

>> REALLY, WE WOULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT'S KIND OF AN APPROPRIATE AGE DIFFERENCE.

SO LIKE I SAID, IF WE HAD A 21-YEAR-OLD FOSTER PARENT, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULDN'T WANT TO PLACE TEENAGERS IN THE HOME, NECESSARILY.

SO WE'D WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS AN AGE GAP THAT JUST MADE SENSE FOR PARENTING.

AND FOR BOUNDARIES AND JUST THOSE THINGS.

YEAH.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THAT WROTE IN AND THEY HAD MOVED TO SOUTH DAKOTA FROM CONNECTICUT.

WELCOME TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND THEY HAVE AN INTERSTATE COMPACT WITH OUR STATE.

CONNECTICUT'S DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, THEY PROVIDE OUTINGS AND FAMILY EVENTS.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW IF SOUTH DAKOTA CPS DOES THE SAME THING?

AND I GUESS THAT WOULD BE TO ALL OF YOU.

SO WE'LL FIRST START WITH YOU, VIRGENA.

>> OKAY.

MOST OF THE EVENT THAT IS ARE FOR FOSTER FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN THAT THEY HAVE IN CARE WITH THEM ARE DONE LOCALLY THROUGH OUR OFFICES AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.

CHRISTMASTIME, DURING FOSTER PARENT APPRECIATION MONTH.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON THAT COMMUNITY.

>> OKAY.

SO WHEN I HAD GONE OVER THIS DURING THE VIDEO, AMY, YOU WERE SHAKING YOUR HEAD THAT, YEAH, WE HAVE OUTINGS FOR THE FAMILIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE DO THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, OUR FAMILIES ARE CENTERED MOSTLY SIOUX FALLS AND RAPID CITY AREA.

SO IN THOSE TWO AREAS OF THE STATE WE DO PROVIDE OUTINGS, LIKE VIRGENA MENTIONED, CHRISTMAS PARTIES, WE DO SUMMER PICNICS, SOMETIMES WE GET TICKETS TO, YOU KNOW, LOCAL BASKETBALL GAMES OR WHATEVER THAT WE CAN DO AS A GROUP WITH OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES AND CERTAINLY WORK WITH OUR LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICE AS WELL TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE FAMILIES ARE AWARE OF THOSE EVENTS AS THEY'RE HAPPENING, TOO.

>> OKAY.

CONTINUE TO SEND THOSE EMAILS AND TEXTS TO US.

WE'LL BE TAKING THEM THROUGHOUT THE HOUR.

LAST ONE I'M GOING TO THROW TO YOU, VIRGENA.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE OFTEN WITH TOPICS LIKE THIS, THERE ARE SOMETIMES MISCONCEPTIONS AND SOME MYTHS AND I WANTED TO SEE WHERE THIS ONE FALLS IN IT.

ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STRICT RULES AND INCOME GUIDELINES THAT FOSTER PARENTS HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH TO GET THROUGH CERTIFIED?

ARE THERE THOSE STRICT GUIDELINES THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF?

>> THERE ARE NO INCOME GUIDELINES FOR FOSTER PARENTS.

WHAT WE DO LOOK AT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INCOME THAT THEY HAD FOR THEIR FAMILY CAN MEET THEIR NEEDS.

SO, THERE'S NOT AN INCOME GUIDELINE.

>> OKAY.

GOOD TO KNOW.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON WITH OUR QUESTIONS HERE IN THE STUDIO AND I'LL STAY WITH YOU, VIRGENA.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A LICENSED FOSTER PARENT OR AN ADOPTIVE PARENT?

ARE THEY THE SAME?

>> FORTUNATELY, IN SOUTH DAKOTA, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE PRIDE TRAINING, IT'S FOR PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE AND FOSTER PARENTS.

SO YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE SAME TRAINING AT THE SAME TIME AND MAKE A DECISION WHEN YOU'RE DONE IF YOU WANT TO DO BOTH OR JUST ONE.

SO IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

AS ONDREA SAID, YOU HAVE TO BE 21.

YOU CAN BE SINGLE, YOU CAN BE MARRIED, YOU CAN BE DIVORCED.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THERE.

INCOME TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUR FAMILY.

TRAINING, 30 HOURS OF TRAINING.

YOU GO THROUGH A HOME STUDY.

THERE ARE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FAMILY IS SAFE FOR THAT CHILD.

SOME POSITIVE REFERENCES.

SO THE REQUIREMENTS ARE GOOD BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE SAFETY FOR CHILDREN, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE OVER THE TOP THAT IT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM COMING -- TO BECOME FOSTER PARENTS.

>> SO, ONDREA, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU AND TALK ABOUT THE TRAINING WHICH WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT.

DO YOU HAVE TO BE A PARENT?

CAN YOU COME TO IT SINGLE?

>> YOU CAN COME TO IT SINGLE WITHOUT HAVING PARENT BEFORE, ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE FOLKS?

>> YEAH.

ALL FOSTER FAMILIES GO THROUGH THE SAME, IN TERMS OF A STATE FAMILY, WOULD GO THROUGH PRIDE TRAINING, SO IT'S PARENT -- EXCUSE ME -- PARENT RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION IS WHAT PRIDE STANDS FOR.

AND IT'S 30 HOURS OF CURRICULUM, BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE.

AND, REALLY, IT'S A VARIETY OF TOPICS.

WE TALK ABOUT GRIEF, WE TALK ABOUT PARENTING, WE TALK ABOUT TRAUMA, CONNECTIONS, THERE'S -- IT'S JUST A LOT OF INFORMATION.

SO, -- AND THEN THERE'S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING THAT HAPPENS AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE A MINIMUM OF FOUR HOME VISITS THAT OCCUR DURING THAT TIME PERIOD AS WELL.

SO THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL THAT GOES INTO THE HOME DOING VISITS WITH THE FAMILY, GATHERING INFORMATION, AND DOING MORE ONE-ON-ONE EDUCATION AND TEACHING AS WELL.

>> WE HAD A QUESTION THAT CAME IN EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON FROM KYLE IN RAPID CITY, AND BASICALLY THE QUESTION WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT FOLLOW-UP AND SUPPORT FOR FOSTER FAMILIES ONCE THEY ARE HELPING THE CHILDREN, THEY'VE OPENED UP THEIR HOME.

WHAT FOSTER -- I GUESS, WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE DURING THAT TIME ONCE THE PROCESS HAS STARTED?

>> ALL FAMILIES WOULD HAVE AN IDENTIFIED WORKER THROUGH THE STATE IN BASIC FOSTER CARE.

SO THEY WOULD HAVE ONE PERSON THEY COULD REACH OUT TO.

BUT THERE'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SUPPORT.

THERE'S SOME FAMILIES HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER AND SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER.

THERE'S SOME MENTOR FAMILIES THAT EXIST.

ON THIS SIDE OF THE STATE WE HAVE THE EAST RIVER FOSTER PARENT NETWORK AND THEY HELP ONE ANOTHER WITH EVERYTHING FROM MAYBE THEY NEED A BED OR A DRESSER FOR A CERTAIN AGE CHILD, CLOTHING OF ALL AGE RANGES AND GENDERS, SO RESOURCE MATERIALS FOR TRAINING.

SO, A LOT OF TIMES FOSTER FAMILIES KIND OF HELP SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS WELL.

>> AND PART OF KYLE'S OTHER QUESTION WAS ABOUT RETENTION AND KIND OF KEEPING THOSE FOSTER PARENTS AROUND.

IS THERE A PROGRAM TO KIND OF REACH OUT TO THOSE PARENTS AND KEEP THEM INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM?

>> WELL, AS ONDREA SAID, FOSTER PARENTS HAVE NETWORKS.

IN RAPID CITY THERE'S A FOSTER PARENT ASSOCIATION.

IN SIOUX FALLS, IN PIERRE, THERE'S AN ASSOCIATION.

AND THOSE ARE ATTENDED BY OUR STAFF AND THEY PROVIDE SUPPORT TO EACH OTHER AND THEY HAVE TRAINING ACTIVITIES.

WE HAVE OUR STAFF WHO ARE IN THOSE HOMES ON A MONTHLY BASIS, IF NOT MORE, SO YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH OUT TO THE FAMILY SERVICE SPECIALISTS, THE SUPERVISOR, THEIR LICENSING FAMILY SERVICE SPECIALIST.

SO I THINK THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT FOSTER PARENTS ARE SUPPORTED.

>> OKAY.

VERY GOOD.

VIRGINIA, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE PLACEMENT, DO THE FOSTER PARENTS HAVE A SAY IN WHO THEY CAN BRING INTO THEIR HOME?

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THESE OTHER PROGRAMS, ALTHOUGH I'M PRETTY SURE THEY PROBABLY DO, BUT ESPECIALLY IN OUR PROGRAM, OUR DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS INTERVIEW THE CHILDREN WHO WOULD BE COMING TO THE HOME AND THEN THEY ALSO VISIT WITH THE PARENTS AND THE OTHER CHILDREN TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER CHILD IS BROUGHT INTO THE HOME WOULD BE A GOOD FIT, BOTH FROM A PARENTAL PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS THE SIBLINGS, WHICH WOULD BE VERY SIMILAR TO ANY OTHER HOME WHERE AS ONDREA SAID, THE CHILDREN NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN IT, TOO, BECAUSE IT IS THE ENTIRE FAMILY THAT'S AFFECTED WHEN A CHILD IS ADDED TO YOUR FAMILY AND TO YOUR HOME LIFE.

>> IS IT THE SAME WAY WITH YOUR FACILITIES, AMY?

>> YES, IT IS.

WE WORK REALLY HARD TO MATCH CHILDREN WITH FAMILIES THAT CAN MEET THEIR NEEDS AND THE FAMILY IS CERTAINLY INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE WE WANT THAT TO BE A GOOD FIT FOR THE CHILD AND WE WANT THE PLACEMENT TO WORK AND WORK WELL.

>> SO, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ONGOING SUPPORT AND WE JUST GOT A TEXT THAT CAME IN THAT'S SIMILAR TO THAT, BUT THE QUESTION SAYS, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHO TO THROW IT TO SO LET ME KNOW, IS THERE ONGOING SUPPORT FOR FOSTER PARENTS WHEN IT COMES TO FOSTERING A CHILD OF TRAUMA OR FAS?

DOES SOUTH DAKOTA HAVE MANY THERAPISTS FOR THESE AREAS?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S TOUGH.

WE ARE A RURAL STATE.

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH THERAPISTS?

I THINK WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD ONES.

BUT, I MEAN, IT IS HARD.

WE DO -- WE KNOW THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA.

WE REALLY TRY TO TRAIN FAMILIES ON THAT.

WE TRY TO CONNECT FAMILIES WITH SERVICES AS BEST WE CAN.

MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW SUPPORTS.

DSS DOES A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT FAMILIES ARE AWARE OF SUPPORTS, GETTING SUPPORTS TO FAMILIES IF THEY'RE ASKING FOR THEM.

SO, YES, I THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY WELL -- WE'RE GETTING BETTER AT LEARNING ABOUT TRAUMA AND THE IMPACTS OF THINGS LIKE FAS AND MAKING SURE THAT FAMILIES ARE AWARE.

>> OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT BEFORE WE MOVE ON?

>> I WOULD JUST AGREE WITH ONDREA THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT THERAPISTS THAT WE WORK WITH AND OUR STAFF ARE TRAINED IN TRAUMA AND DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES BUT, YES, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR RESOURCES AND ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THAT SUPPORT BUT CERTAINLY OUR STAFF AND OUR PROGRAMS ARE DOING GREAT WORK SUPPORTING CHILDREN OF TRAUMA HISTORIES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

VIRGENA, I'M GOING TO COME -- DID YOU WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT?

NO.

I WANT TO COME TO VIRGENA FOR THIS NEXT.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WHEN WE HAVE THOSE CHILDREN THAT COME IN AND THEY DO REQUIRE MEDICATIONS, EXTRA MEDICAL COSTS, MAYBE PHYSICAL THERAPY, COUNSELING, WHO PAYS FOR THAT?

>> SO, WELL, THE STATE DOES.

SO FOSTER PARENTS ARE REIMBURSED FOR THE CARE OF THOSE CHILDREN ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

AND THEN THERE IS COVERAGE FOR THEIR MEDICAL CONDITION, VISION, DENTAL, COUNSELING, PRESCRIPTIONS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO THOSE THINGS ARE ALL COVERED.

>> OKAY.

SO, MAYBE NO REASON WHY YOU COULDN'T BRING SOMEONE IN.

WELL, THERE'S REASONS, BUT... [ Laughter ] VIRGINIA, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU AND WE'LL KIND OF THROW IT AROUND IF WE NEED TO A LITTLE BIT.

AND I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE SPECIFIC CHILDREN THAT NEED TO FIND A HOME TO GO TO, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN THAT COME FROM LARGE FAMILIES, LOTS OF SIBLINGS.

HOW OFTEN CAN YOU KEEP THOSE SIBLINGS TOGETHER?

AND IS THAT HARDER TO DO?

>> YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH DSS VERY CLOSELY TO TRY TO DO THAT AS OFTEN AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

FOR ABBOTT HOUSE, I WILL TELL YOU, THERE HAVE BEEN SITUATIONS WHERE TWO SIBLINGS WILL SHARE A BEDROOM AND INCREASE OUR FAMILY BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY ALREADY FULL EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE BEDROOM, BUT SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THE SIBLINGS TOGETHER, WE WILL ADD TO OUR HOME AND OUR PARENTS HAVE BEEN REALLY WILLING AND EXCITED, REALLY, ABOUT BEING ABLE TO HELP, YOU KNOW, TWO SISTERS OR TWO BROTHERS, THAT SORT OF THING.

IT REALLY, I THINK, JUST DEPENDS, EACH SITUATION IS AN INDIVIDUAL SITUATION.

WE ALSO WORK WITH DSS, WE HAVE BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOMES.

SO WHEN POSSIBLE, WE TRY TO KEEP THEM AT LEAST IN THE SAME COMMUNITY IF WE CAN HELP OUT WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, THAT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE POSSIBLE, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE CHILDREN COME FROM, BUT WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO TRY TO KEEP THEM IF NOT IN THE SAME HOME, AT LEAST HAVING REGULAR CONTACT, IF THAT IS ALLOWED AND AS LONG AS IT'S SAFE CONTACT.

>> WELL, THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.

HOW OFTEN CAN WE KEEP THE KIDS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES?

IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO DO IN SIOUX FALLS AND RAPID CITY AND VERMILLION.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER PLACES THAT MIGHT BE HARDER.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND IN TERMS OF KEEPING KIDS IN THEIR OWN TOWNS?

>> IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

KEEPING SIBLINGS TOGETHER, KEEPING KIDS WITHIN THEIR SAME COMMUNITY, AGAIN, SO THEY CAN GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL AND HAVE THE SAME FRIENDS.

BUT WE HAVE CHILDREN FROM EVERY COMMUNITY PLACED OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

IT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE.

AND WE WANT COMMUNITIES, WE WANT PEOPLE TO STEP UP BECAUSE YOU DESERVE TO GROW UP IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU DESERVE TO GROW UP WITH YOUR FAMILY, SO YOU CAN HAVE VISITS, SO YOU CAN SEE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE WATCHING TONIGHT AND THEY'RE REALIZING HOW SERIOUS THIS IS ACROSS THE STATE.

QUESTION CAME IN, ONDREA, I'M GOING TO THROW THIS ONE TO YOU.

HOW ARE FOSTER CHILDREN PREPARED TO GO INTO FOSTER CARE?

>> WOW.

YOU KNOW, THE HARD PART IS, I DON'T THINK FOSTER KIDS ARE PREPARED.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PREPARE SOMEONE FOR LEAVING THEIR HOME, USUALLY ABRUPTLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR HOME THAT IS LEADING TO THAT, TOO.

SO I THINK REALLY WHAT IT IS IS PREPARING THE INDIVIDUALS THAT CARE FOR THE CHILDREN ONCE THEY ARE IN CARE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE EDUCATED ON TRAUMA, EDUCATED ON GRIEF, HELPING THESE CHILDREN ACCLIMATE AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR FAMILY BECAUSE EVEN IF THEIR FAMILY, THEY CAN'T LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILY FOR SAFETY, FAMILY IS STILL VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THESE KIDS.

>> AMY, I'M GOING TO THROW THIS NEXT ONE TO YOU.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.

OR MAYBE IT'S MORE -- >> THANK YOU.

[ Laughter ] >> MAYBE IT'S MORE DIFFICULT FOR ME AND THE REST OF YOU MIGHT WANT TO JUMP IN ON THIS, I'M NOT SURE.

WHAT IF A FOSTER CHILD DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN TO THEIR FAMILY?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT DOES HAPPEN.

THAT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH THAT CHILD AND THE BIRTH FAMILY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO REALLY IDENTIFY WHAT'S AT THE ROOT OF THAT, WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THAT THAT IS CAUSING THE CHILD TO SAY THAT, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT HAVE A VALID REASON FOR THAT AND WE WANT TO WORK THROUGH THAT.

IT MIGHT BE JUST THAT THEY'RE SCARED TO GO BACK TO A SITUATION THEY WERE IN PRIOR TO AND NEED TO SEE THAT THEIR FAMILY SITUATION HAS CHANGED.

AND, SO, REALLY WORKING TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE REASONING IS AND WORK THROUGH THAT WITH THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY AND THE FOSTER FAMILY AND THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THAT TEAM.

>> THAT WOULD BE TOUGH.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO JUMP ON THAT?

WE HAD A PRETTY LENGTHY TEXT THAT CAME IN AND THESE ARE FOSTER -- THEY'RE CURRENT FOSTER PARENTS.

AND IT'S KIND OF THEIR THOUGHTS ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE.

AS CURRENT FOSTER PARENTS, WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.

WE SEE LOTS OF CONSIDERATION FOR PARENTS' RIGHTS, BUT NOT MUCH FOR THE KIDS.

IT SEEMS LIKE PARENTS GET WAY TOO MANY SECOND CHANCES AND THE CHILDREN ARE LEFT TO SUFFER LONGER.

IT'S ESPECIALLY CONFUSING AND FRUSTRATING WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING TO ADOPT.

IS THIS A SENTIMENT OR A FEELING THAT YOU HEAR FROM PARENTS OUT THERE?

DO WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM AS FOSTER PARENTS?

VIRGENA, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.

>> I THINK I DO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.

THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED, COMPLEX.

WHEN CHILDREN ENTER FOSTER CARE, CHILD PROTECTION IS REQUIRED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAW TO PROVIDE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO THOSE PARENTS IN ORDER TO REUNIFY THOSE CHILDREN.

AND THOSE EFFORTS CAN BE UP TO 12 MONTHS.

SOMETIMES THEY GO ON LONG AFTER 12 MONTHS.

YOU HAVE A VARIETY OF ATTORNEYS INVOLVED.

CHILD'S ATTORNEY, PARENT'S ATTORNEY, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY THAT'S REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT, THERE'S A JUDGE, SOMETIMES THERE'S A AN ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILD THAT'S INVOLVED.

SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE CASE AND WHO ARE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT CASE.

AND SOMETIMES CASES DO GO ON TOO LONG.

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY COMPLEX ISSUES.

SO I DO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.

>> YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR SENDING THAT IN.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT?

ANOTHER QUESTION THAT CAME IN.

IS THERE STILL A PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH PARENTS WHO ARE IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING THEIR CHILDREN TO THE STATE?

DO WE HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE KNOW OF?

>> STEPHANIE, I THINK WHAT THE CHILD PROTECTION DOES IS THAT WHEN WE RECEIVE REPORTS AND WHEN THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY, BUT THEY DON'T RISE TO THE LEVEL THAT A CHILD HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM THAT FAMILY, THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THAT FAMILY IF THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH CHILD PROTECTION AND WE CAN HELP SET UP PARENTING, COUNSELING FOR THE PARENT OR POSSIBLY FOR THE CHILD IF THERE ARE MEDICAL ISSUES, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HELP WORK THROUGH THOSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN WORK WITH THAT FAMILY, LOOK AT WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND THEN TRY TO GET THEM REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE SERVICES SO THOSE CHILDREN NEVER HAVE TO BE REMOVED.

>> OKAY.

LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON.

WE'VE GOT MORE QUESTIONS COMING IN AS WE'RE SPEAKING.

I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH A COUPLE OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE DOWN HERE.

AMY, LET'S START WITH YOU.

HOW OFTEN DO FOSTER FAMILIES END UP ADOPTING THE CHILDREN THEY'RE HELPING?

>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC NUMBERS FOR YOU, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.

I WILL SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF TIMES WHEN A CHILD IS REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME AND IN THE CUSTODY OF THE STATE, THOSE CHILDREN ARE GOING BACK TO HOME AND BEING REUNIFIED WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR WITH A RELATIVE.

THAT'S REALLY THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IS TO RETURN THOSE CHILDREN TO FAMILIES AND THAT IS HAPPENING MOST OF THE TIME.

NOW, THAT BEING SAID, THERE ARE TIMES THAT ADOPTION IS NECESSARY AND DOES HAPPEN AND THERE'S MANY TIMES THAT THOSE FOSTER FAMILIES ARE THE FAMILIES THAT ADOPT THOSE CHILDREN.

>> OKAY.

>> STEPHANIE, IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> DURING FISCAL YEAR 2018, THE DEPARTMENT FINALIZED 173 CHILDREN IN ADOPTION.

AND 56% OF THOSE WERE FOSTER PARENT ADOPTIONS.

>> OKAY.

>> SO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THOSE CHILDREN REMAIN WITH THEIR FOSTER FAMILY.

>> WOW.

OKAY.

VIRGINIA, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU.

CARING CITIZENS CAN HELP IN MANY WAYS AND SOMETIMES BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT OPTION FOR THEM.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS FOLKS CAN HELP OUT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE WAYS?

>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS WHERE WE -- THERE'S GROUPS THAT ARE HELD TO SUPPORT THE FOSTER PARENTS.

I THINK ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO, NOT ONLY PERHAPS TO GIVE THE FOSTER PARENTS A BREAK BUT ALSO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH THE CHILDREN IN OUR HOMES BECAUSE OUR FOSTER PARENTS ARE ACTUALLY CARING FOR AND BEING THE PARENTS OF SIX INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN THAT COME A LOT OF TIMES FROM SIX OTHER DIFFERENT FAMILIES.

WE LOOK FOR COMMUNITY CONNECTORS THAT CAN COME IN AND HELP THOSE CHILDREN INDIVIDUALLY, GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL ATTENTION, MAYBE HELP THEM WITH HOMEWORK, YOU KNOW, ONE NIGHT, EVEN JUST DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM SO THEY CAN TAKE THEM TO A MOVIE OR THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE CHILDREN ARE LIVING JUST LIKE ALL OF US LIVE, BUT THERE'S -- FOR OUR FAMILIES THERE'S SIX CHILDREN IN EVERY HOME.

SO HAVING SOME OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUT REALLY IS A GREAT BENEFIT FOR OUR FAMILIES.

>> YEAH.

SO THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOLKS CAN GIVE.

I'M GUESSING FINANCIALLY IS ANOTHER WAY TO HELP.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

ALWAYS AN OPTION.

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TOUCHED ON EARLIER AND, ONDREA, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT.

WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THAT COME TO MIND FOR YOU?

>> ONE OR TWO.

I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, A BIG ONE IS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE MARRIED OR ALREADY BE PARENTS, HAVE BEEN PARENTS.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

KIDS COME, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF KIDS, AND ALL TYPES OF FAMILIES ARE WELCOME.

SO, REALLY, THAT'S A BIG MYTH THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE AN ANSWER TO.

THAT KIDS NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN BEDROOM, FOSTER KIDS NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN BEDROOM.

THERE ARE STANDARDS ON MAKING SURE THAT CHILDREN OF THE SAME GENDER SHARE ROOMS, HOW MANY KIDS CAN SHARE A ROOM, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> SURE.

>> BUT CHILDREN DO NOT NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN BEDROOM.

SO THAT IS ONE THING THAT I KNOW GETS BROUGHT UP QUITE A BIT.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING, MEDICAL EXPENSES, I KNOW YOU GUYS TOUCHED ON THAT ALREADY, TOO.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT I THINK, REALLY, THE BIGGEST THING, IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, LIKE THIS QUESTION THAT SOMEBODY ALREADY BROUGHT UP, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, ASK, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER.

>> ANY OTHER MYTHS THAT SOMEBODY'S THINKING ABOUT?

ARE WE TOUCHING ON THEM SO FAR?

>> POSSIBLY, IF YOU'RE A FOSTER PARENT, YOU WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CHILD CARE.

>> YES.

>> AND THAT'S NOT TRUE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS FOR THAT.

>> OKAY.

DID YOU HAVE ONE, AMY?

>> I WOULD JUST SAY, WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT FOSTER PARENTS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA THAT WORK VERY VERY HARD WITH OUR YOUTH, AND I THINK SOMETIMES THERE'S A MYTH OUT THERE THAT FOSTER PARENTS DO THIS FOR THE MONEY AND ARE IN IT TO MAKE MONEY.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE.

OUR FOSTER PARENTS WORK VERY VERY HARD.

AND NONE OF THEM ARE DOING THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING TONS OF MONEY DOING THIS BY ANY MEANS.

LIKE VIRGENA SAID, THEY GET REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES, BUT THAT'S REALLY ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD, AND I HAD KIND OF SKIPPED OVER IT, BUT I'M WONDERING, LET'S GO TO YOU, VIRGENA, DO FOSTER PARENTS HAVE A ROLE IN WORKING WITH THE CHILD'S BIRTH PARENTS?

>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN A LOT MORE OF LATELY, AND IT'S A POSITIVE THING.

BUT IT'S REALLY A CHOICE FOR THAT FOSTER PARENT, IF THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE BIRTH PARENT AND THE BIRTH PARENT TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT FOSTER PARENT.

BUT WHEN THEY ARE, IT'S SO MUCH BETTER FOR THE CHILD.

BUT WHEN KIDS GO HOME, SOMETIMES THOSE FOSTER PARENTS THEN BECOME A SUPPORT FOR THAT FAMILY.

WE HAVE PARENTS AND BIRTH PARENTS, FOSTER PARENTS AND BIRTH PARENTS GOING TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, TO ACTIVITIES, TO SCHOOL CONFERENCES TOGETHER.

AND WHEN CHILDREN SEE THEIR BIRTH PARENT AND THEIR FOSTER PARENT TOGETHER AND CONVERSING AND INVOLVED IN THAT CHILD'S LIFE, IT'S A VERY POSITIVE THING FOR THAT CHILD.

>> HOW OFTEN DO WE SEE A CHILD , THEY'RE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILY, DO THEY KEEP THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FOSTER FAMILY?

IS THAT A COMMON THING?

>> SOMETIMES IT DOES HAPPEN.

AGAIN, IT'S A DECISION MADE BY THAT BIRTH FAMILY, IF THEY WANT THAT CONTINUED CONTACT.

BUT WE DO HAVE FOSTER PARENTS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THAT BIRTH FAMILY.

MAYBE THEY WATCH THE CHILD OR THE CHILDREN FOR A COUPLE NIGHTS, YOU KNOW, DURING THE WEEK OR WHATEVER.

BUT, YES, IT'S, AGAIN, A VERY POSITIVE THING AND IT PROVIDES SOME NATURAL SUPPORTS ONCE THAT CHILD RETURNS AND THE AGENCIES ARE NO LONGER INVOLVED.

>> HERE'S A GREAT QUESTION.

HOW OFTEN ARE PRIDE CLASSES AVAILABLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, PARTICULARLY SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA, AND WHERE CAN THIS PERSON FIND THE SCHEDULE?

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, IF YOU GO TO THE CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY WEBSITE, YOU CAN REACH OUR CONTACT NUMBER, AND WE HAVE GREAT INQUIRY WORKERS WHO CAN ANSWER ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE SEVERAL CLASSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

VARIETY OF COMMUNITIES.

ABERDEEN, HURON, THEY'RE TALKING SOUTHEAST, YANKTON, MITCHELL, SIOUX FALLS, VERMILLION.

SO WE TRY TO BRING THEM AS OFTEN AS WE CAN TO LARGER COMMUNITIES.

LIKE I SAID, SOME OF THE TRAINING IS ONLINE AS WELL SO WE CAN DO SOME INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES, IN MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES, TOO.

BUT WE'RE STARTING CLASSES ABOUT EVERY TEN WEEKS OR SO, NEW CLASSES STARTING.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT FOUR MINUTES LEFT.

I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION TO YOU, VIRGENA.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT HIT ON.

I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THEY WANT TO KNOW, PARTICULARLY ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN HOMES AND THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN FOSTER CHILDREN THAT ARE NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE AND HOW LIKELY ARE THEY TO BE PUT IN OTHER NATIVE HOMES?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE GREAT NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN SOUTH DAKOTA IS THE NEED FOR NATIVE AMERICAN FOSTER FAMILIES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

WE HAVE MORE NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN IN CARE THAN WE HAVE NATIVE AMERICAN FOSTER HOMES.

SO THEN WE USE NON-INDIAN FOSTER HOMES FOR THOSE CHILDREN.

SO IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT NEED THAT ALL OF OUR AGENCIES ARE WORKING ON ALL THE TIME.

>> OKAY.

AND THE LAST QUESTION THAT CAME IN, ARE LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ELIGIBLE TO BE FOSTER PARENTS AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YES.

>> WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT QUESTIONS.

THERE'S A FEW THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE ASKED TONIGHT.

I'LL SHARE THOSE WITH OUR GUESTS AND SOME OF THE CONTACT INFORMATION IS ON HERE.

SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO GET BACK OUT TO FOLKS, YOU CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT THREE MINUTES LEFT.

I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH OF YOU.

BUT FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING TONIGHT.

THIS MAY BE NEW NEWS TO THEM.

AND THEY'RE THINKING, WE COULD DO THIS, WE SHOULD DO THIS.

YOUR BEST ADVICE TO FOLKS WATCHING.

>> I THINK IF ANYONE HAS AN INTEREST IN DOING THAT, THEY SHOULD CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND ASK QUESTIONS, FIND OUT WHAT THEY CAN.

YOU CAN LOOK ON THE INTERNET, BUT DON'T HESITATE TO GIVE US A CALL AND FIND OUT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO BECOME CERTIFIED.

>> OKAY.

>> FOR ABBOTT HOUSE, WE WILL BE OPENING TWO MORE HOMES.

SO WE WILL NEED TWO MORE FOSTER FAMILIES, AND OUR DESIGN IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER FOSTER FAMILIES.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT I KNOW THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AS WELL.

SO IT REALLY DEPENDS, I THINK, FOR THE INDIVIDUALS ON WHAT STYLE, I GUESS, OF FOSTER PARENTING THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN BECAUSE THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO HELP OUT.

>> IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, REACH OUT, GET SOME ANSWERS.

>> YEAH.

>> SAME QUESTION, BEST VISE.

-- ADVICE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, I AGREE WITH VIRGINIA.

REALLY, IF YOU REACH ANY OF US, WE'LL TALK WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT OUR PROGRAMS DO, WHAT BASIC FOSTER CARE IS, WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET TO THE RIGHT RESOURCE FOR YOUR FAMILY.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO REACH FOSTER CHILDREN AND TO FOSTER PARENT, AND, SO, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> REAL QUICK, I HAD AN EMAIL THAT CAME THROUGH ABOUT, WHAT HAPPENS IF A CHILD IS IN A HOSTILE FOSTER CARE ENVIRONMENT?

I'M GUESSING THROUGH YOUR CHECKS, YOU WOULD GO IN AND REMOVE THAT CHILD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, IF THAT CHILD'S NOT SAFE IN THAT FOSTER HOME, THEN WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THAT CHILD AND LOOK INTO THE SITUATION.

>> AND THEN YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR FOLKS WATCHING THAT THINK, MAYBE WE COULD DO THIS.

>> WELL, BESIDES CONTACTING ANY ONE OF THE AGENCIES AND ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS, I WOULD HAVE THEM TALK TO ANOTHER FOSTER PARENT.

FOSTER PARENTS ARE THE BEST RECRUITERS, THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH IT, THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH TRAINING, THEY KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.

WHAT I HEAR FROM FOSTER PARENTS ALL THE TIME IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GAVE A LOT TO THIS CHILD OR THESE CHILDREN THAT WE'RE IN OUR HOMES, BUT WHAT THEY GAVE TO US IS SO MUCH MORE.

>> YES.

AMY, YOU GET THE LAST WORD.

YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE FENCE TONIGHT.

>> I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH ALL OF THEM AND SAY, REACH OUT.

WE ARE A GREAT TEAM AND WE ALL WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER.

SO WE KNOW IF YOU REACH OUT TO LSS AND LSS ISN'T THE RIGHT PROGRAM FOR YOU, WE'RE GOING TO REFER YOU TO ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, KEEP IN MIND, THERE ISN'T AN IDEAL FOSTER FAMILY, THERE'S NO PERFECT PICTURE OF A FOSTER FAMILY.

WE WORK WITH CHILDREN AND ALL CHILDREN ARE DIFFERENT, SO WE NEED ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT FAMILIES TO TRY TO MATCH THOSE CHILDREN WITH THOSE FAMILIES.

SO, REACH OUT, ASK QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB ANSWERING QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

>>> THAT WILL CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR GUESTS FOR BEING WITH US.

THANK YOU TO VIRGINIA WISHARD LAMBERT WITH THE ABBOTT HOUSE AND TO ONDREA PATZLAFF WITH THE CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY.

ALSO THANK YOU TO VIRGENA WEISELER WITH THE CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES DIVISION THROUGH THE SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

AND THANK YOU TO AMY WITT WITH LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONNECTED WITH US TONIGHT TO ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION.

BE SURE TO JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS" AS WE ZERO IN ON MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES WITHIN OUR FARMING AND AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY.

THE NUMBER OF FARMERS AND RANCHERS CONSIDERING SUICIDE OR DYING BY SUICIDE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH AT 8:00 P.M.

CENTRAL/7:00 P.M.

MOUNTAIN.

UNTIL THEN, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US WITH SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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