New Service in Duluth Helps Children Find Nurturing Foster Families
Kris Hanson will lead new efforts in Duluth to find and support caring foster parents for children who are unable to remain safely in their homes as a Therapeutic Foster Care Coordinator for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Hanson, a former foster parent, fostered children while also raising her own children.
On an average day, there were approximately 9,300 children and young adults in care last year, primarily due to parental drug abuse and child neglect, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Hanson brings a professional background in Child Protection and many years of experience in parenting education through the Human Development Center in Duluth, along with her service as a foster parent.
“I have a passion for working with children and families to help them get back on track,” Hanson said. “It’s a great joy to see biological and foster families working together to achieve common goals for child and family well-being. I’ve experienced many cases of success, and it can be a wonderful experience.”
Her role will be to recruit foster homes and provide training, supervision and ongoing education and support to foster parents through the organization’s Therapeutic Foster Care program. Therapeutic Foster Care provides a higher level of care to children that includes weekly support from a mental health professional and 24/7 support to foster families.
Foster parents can be single or married, home owners or renters. Lutheran Social Service is seeking prospective foster parents who have time to listen, support young people through challenges, and provide positive relationships in the family and community. Flexibility, patience, consistency and a healthy sense of humor are also ideal characteristics for foster parents.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 20 at 4:30 p.m. when Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota will host an online information session. Registration is available on Eventbrite: bit.ly/2KPV4LZ. You can also learn more by contacting Kris Hanson at kris.hanson@lssmn.org, or 218.600.6996, or by visiting www.fostercaremn.org
“My husband and I raised our two children with foster children, and they have flourished,” Hanson said. “It’s rewarding work to see lives changed.”