THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/THE OREGONIAN
The nation’s economic crisis is making it difficult for child welfare officials to find foster parents for youth. Among the reasons: Potential candidates are expressing concern that reimbursement rates will not fully cover child-care costs. The consequences of the nationwide foster parent shortage include crowded group homes, the assignment of multiple children to each available foster family and settling for less than desirable matches for special needs and minority youth. In addition to recruitment issues, states’ budgets for child welfare may decrease, spurring cutbacks in training and support programs for foster care workers and parents, AP reports. Sept. 29, http://www.oregonlive.com.
