Everyone has a passion in life, something that we are willing to stand tall for and defend. The passion that has filled my heart and home for several years has been providing foster care for teenage boys. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a young man with a whole lot of baggage turn his life around, focus and become a productive part of society. My boys have taught me more about feelings, hardships, forgiveness and loyalty than I thought possible. Don’t get me wrong, I have spent sleepless nights praying that God will give me the wisdom to correct the issue at hand, but to see the progress in most boys is incomprehensible at times. Foster care takes an individual or family with patience, an excellent sense of humor, good communication skills and, most importantly, someone with creative problem-solving skills. The size of your heart is more important than the size of your house. If you are considering foster care, let me inform you that there are agencies other than the county that can help you become licensed. I am licensed through an organization called PATH, Inc. The local office is based in St. Cloud. The advantages of doing foster care through PATH include: o The ability to stay home with the children. o Freedom to choose the type of youth you wish to work with (age, gender, etc.). o Receiving an income from the per diem of foster care. o Two weeks paid respite for each child (time off while the children are cared for by other foster care providers). o Paid training to improve parenting skills. o A 24-hour support network of agency staff. o Monthly support groups with other area foster parents. I feel that working with PATH allows me to be a strong voice for my teen boys. They support us like no other agency can. June is foster care month. Could foster parenting be a passion for you? If so,I would love to have you on my team. Put your talents to use and consider welcoming a child into your home. Shelly Olson, Kimball foster parent
