The Montana Department of Child and Family services is struggling to find foster care for kids across the state; and that strain is hitting hard in Flathead County.
More than half of those homes are full, landing many kids in group homes.
For three and a half years, Lori Elwell and her husband have been foster parents. Elwell says, "My husband and I have always kind of just loved children and both come from big families and he has an adoptive sibling. It was something we always wanted to do."
But, taking on the challenge changed their lives more than they expected, "When we got out first foster placement," Elwell says, "we didn't have any children of our own, and then right at the beginning of that placement, we found out we were pregnant and kind of over the last couple of years we;ve gone on and adopted our daughter, and we have our biological son, and we've had other children in and out of our home over the last few years "
The Elwell's are one of just eight families available to take in kids in the Flathead Valley. Typically, the department would have about 15 homes, but the current lagging economy means a lack of resources.
Family Resource Specialist Diana Lamers says, "The economy is impacting our foster families just as it has the families that we get referrals on so they are struggling with changes in jobs or loss of jobs."
On average, 160 children are in the foster care system in Flathead County daily, many of them in group homes. But, those shelters are full, which means many siblings are separated, adding stress to a traumatic experience.
Lamers tells us. "Children are never in foster care for a good reason. They've experienced abuse or neglect, they've been traumatize, they've been separated from their families so what we try to do is minimize the amount of trauma for them."
Elwell says she understands the hardships of being a foster parent, but can't imagine her life any other way. She tells us, "There are struggles with it but overall it is so rewarding and fulfilling that its something my husband and I both see ourselves doing for a long time."
Some kids in Flathead County have been sent to Missoula and Helena, but as other regions are feeling the same strain, Lamers isn't sure how long that will be an option.
If you'd like to find out different ways you can help, you can call the Montana Department of Child and Family Services at 444-5900.
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