Who are Ohio's Resource Families?
The families, who extended themselves by caring for children in their homes for a brief, intermediate or permanent time, are Resources to their community. While their purpose and needs are sometimes different, the way they relate to their role of shared parenting with primary parents and the system of child well being, is common. Thus, we use the term Resource Family to be inclusive of all these groups.
-
Adoptive families who eventually become permanent often need support in order to sustain their permanent commitment to children. Families may adopt having been foster families, through private & public child welfare agencies, or through international agencies.
-
Foster families provide both flexibility and stability to the children in their care, with a great deal of uncertainty and deserve advocacy and support. About 1/2 of Ohio's families serve in the public child welfare system [in 88 counties] and close to 1/2 serve in the private child welfare system [ in over 100 private treatment foster care agencies].
-
Kinship families rise to the challenge of parenting their relatives or children known to them, braving the maze they must travel through in order to access resources. Families may be connected to a child welfare agency or may be taking care of family members without public support.
-
Respite families serve a critical role in providing continuity for children, and giving foster families time for rejuvenation. Respite families may be licensed by foster care agencies or approved to provide services to a specific family.