Melissa Mayes speaks to Lima City Council on Monday night about the need for foster parents.
Photo courtesy of Greg Sowinski, Allen County Children Services
LIMA — Lima city councilwoman Carla Thompson felt emotional when Melissa Mayes spoke to council Monday night about the need for more foster parents.
Thompson, who was adopted by Mayes’ older sister, said she knew from experience the value of foster families, especially in a community like Lima.
“We live in a community that does not talk about conscious contraception, planning parenthood or abortion as an alternative,” she said. “That means we have a lot of children in our community being raised by people that don’t know how to raise children or might not be interested in raising them. I see high need for foster parents, and I don’t think they realize that it’s more of a blessing than a hardship.”
Mayes, who serves as a foster parent licensing specialist for Allen County Children Services, said 27 of the 56 children in Children Services’ custody are placed at least 30 minutes outside of Lima due to the lack of foster homes and only a quarter of the 31 foster homes children services has are accepting children, with only 10 living in Lima.
Mayor Sharetta Smith seconded the request.
“I’m asking residents who may be interested fostering a child to reach out to Allen County Children Services,” she said. “We’ve learned tonight how important it is for the overall stability of the child and their ability to recover from trauma they may have experienced to be able to stay in their communities.”
Thompson said prospective families should not be afraid to take in children in need.
“Of course, some of these children will have problems,” she said. “I’ve raised two boys, and they have problems, too, but they’ve ended up great. Human beings need love and nurturing and if you can provide any of that then you’re going to create a positive outcome or influence for that child.”
For more information, visit allencsb.com.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
