THESE KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO CARE FOR THEM.

To a family that is wondering if foster care is right for them, Masset encourages them to talk to a current foster family, get real answers and don’t believe the myths. The PATH staff sited two main myths about foster care: 1) That it is expensive to the foster family and 2) that only a certain type of family can do foster care. The reality is that PATH reimburses everything: clothing, food, activity fees, childcare, preschool, etc. PATH wants to ensure that those normal, on-going activities of childhood are provided...such as piano lessons or soccer. As Nancy McKenzie said, “We don’t want any child to not have the opportunities that other kids have simply because he/she is a child in foster care.”

In regards to myth #2, nearly anyone can serve in foster care: single parents, married parents, dual-career families, retired families, same-sex families, people who have children, people who don’t have children. As Masset said, “You don’t have to be a parent to be a foster parent.” Additionally, providing foster care doesn’t always require a full-time commitment. One great need currently is respite providers. Respite families provide routine and scheduled breaks to foster families at their own discretion.

There are other ways too, to serve kids through PATH. Seeing it as a privilege and honor to love and serve kids, PATH works hard to partner with families in whatever ways work, giving families the wonderful opportunity to serve the world’s kids. Because, in the words of Masset, “These kids are our future. Somebody needs to care for them.” [AWM]