Nonprofit helps provide homes for foster children by easing the process

CHARLOTTE — Thousands of children are in North Carolina’s foster care system. More kids need foster homes but there aren’t enough licensed parents with the room to keep up, according to Pinnacle Family Services.

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Sarawanna Gibson grew up in a home where her parents raised foster children. She is now a foster mom herself.

“You would be amazed at just the basic things: [being] able to provide a house with running water, food every day, a bed to sleep in and just the family atmosphere they enjoy,” said Gibson.

She provides the necessities and more but finding other adults to give that support isn’t so simple.

“There’s always been a need for foster families but with the amount that are coming in, it’s hard to keep up,” explained Tiffany Straw-Botts, a Foster Parent Licensing and Recruiting specialist for Pinnacle Family Services. “I have families that come to me and say, ‘I just wish I had an extra room.’”

That’s where H3 Collective comes in, the nonprofit partners with North Carolina-based Fostering Hopes. The duo works with churches, businesses and contractors to provide homes for foster families.

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“What we want to do is provide better family-based care options for children who enter foster care, to keep children together, to keep sibling groups together,” said Alex Williams, president of Fostering Hopes.

The group needs to find partners in Charlotte to make that a reality.

H3 Collective wants to partner with churches and businesses willing to donate time and/or resources to make the homes a reality in Charlotte.

If you’re interested, visit fosteringhopes.org. Families interested in applying for a H3 Collective home can apply on the website as well.

Adults interested in becoming a licensed foster parent can apply online.

Pinnacle Family Services will host two information sessions for people interested:

• Feb. 23 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Toast & Bash, 2515 Roosevelt Blvd suite F, Monroe
• In coordination with Gaston County DSS there will be another event with multiple foster care agencies: April 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dallas Park, 1303 Dallas Cherryville Hwy, Dallas

(Watch the video below: Changes being made to help kids avoid being shuffled around in foster care system)

Changes being made to help kids avoid being shuffled around in foster care system

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