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Summarized by Kent Larsen
LDS Leaders Urge Members To Become Foster Parents
Salt Lake Tribune 15Jul00 D1
By Peggy Fletcher Stack: Salt Lake Tribune
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The LDS Church's First Presidency is renewing
its call for Church members to provide foster care. The Church has sent a
letter to local stake presidents in Utah asking them to encourage families
"to volunteer their time and homes as foster parents," and
telling them that many of the children in need are LDS Church members also.
The call comes as Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, who is also an LDS
Church member, is scheduled to announce a partnership between the LDS Church
and the Utah Foster Care Foundation, according to the foundation's
president, Dallis Pierson. The First Presidency issued a similar call four years
ago, leading to an increase in the number of foster families of 400 to
500, according to Fred Riley, commissioner of LDS Family Services. But
Riley says that the need for families continues, "The need for homes
continues to outstrip the number of volunteers. People come into the system and
leave quickly, so there is a high turnover rate."
The state now has 1,110 foster families and is trying to increase
that number to 1,500 by year end. But even that won't be enough, according
to Pierson, "Our ultimate goal is to have two families for every
child placed in foster care so we can make the best placement. We have a long way
to go."
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