Dozens offer to give foster parents a little help

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

Dozens of people have responded to state officials' call for help to give foster parents occasional breaks from the day-to-day stress of caring for foster children, many of whom need emotional as well as tangible support.

"There's a whole range of people — ex-foster kids, ex-foster parents, kids who grew up near a foster home," said Elaine Chung of the state Department of Human Services. "It's mostly people who can really identify with that role and yet can't do it, but they so want to help in some way."

Chung initiated the "cousins" network last month, asking for people willing to help with a list of chores such as shopping, cleaning, cooking and yardwork. The goal is to give foster parents respite from everyday chores, much as a cousin or relative might do for a family member in need, Chung said.

Some 35 people responded, and 33 were given applications after being told that they were expected to commit for a year and offer services three or four times a month, she said, adding that people call every day and she is still taking applications.

Foster parents provide not only shelter but emotional support and understanding to children who are afraid, angry and resentful about being taken away from their parents. Often, the children come from mothers who have abused drugs during pregnancy, which causes developmental and learning problems that the foster parent must deal with.

Chung, who retired as a foster-parent case worker but returned to the department to help with the fostering program, said foster parenting is a tough job that the state has trouble filling because of the stress. The cousins program is an attempt to relieve some of the stress, and enthusiastic people have answered the call, she said.

"It's not so much the numbers (of callers)," Chung said. "It's who they are that is really exciting and they're ready to go."

May is Foster Parent Month. Among other events, the state is sponsoring a fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bishop Museum for foster parents and their children and for prospective foster parents. It's a time to check out the program with the agency and organizations that help, Chung said.

Anyone interested in fostering just needs to say they are attending the fair and the entry is free.

For more information about the cousins, call Chung at 832-5155.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.