Archbishop James P. Keleher, chairman of the Kansas Catholic Conference, announced today that the conference is requesting support from all Catholic parishes in Kansas for embracing foster family recruitment efforts initiated by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

In making the announcement, Archbishop Keleher said "The Kansas Catholic Conference has embraced foster family recruitment as one of their causes and will partner with SRS to mobilize families in the Catholic church to step forward and accept the challenge.

"As servants of God and stewards of His ministry, we must help create a promise of hope for these children in need," Archbishop Keleher added. "We must end the cycle of children growing up without a place to call home, without a family to provide love and support, and without a support system to help them become the unique and valuable individuals given to this world by the grace of God."

The Kansas Catholic Conference met with SRS Secretary Rochelle Chronister and SRS Commissioner of Children & Family Services Joyce Allegrucci recently to discuss ways in which the Catholic community can offer support to the recruitment effort. SRS Deputy Secretary Janet Schalansky is leading the agency's recruitment effort.

SRS began a major recruitment campaign earlier this year with the goal of recruiting 600 new foster families. There are about 4,700 children in Kansas who are in foster care today. The children range in age from infants to teenagers, and all ages in between. They come from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

"Many of these children need a foster home B some for a few days, others for a few weeks, and some until they are ready to tackle the world on their own," said Schalansky.

Archbishop Keleher said providing foster homes for children in need is a challenge he believes many Catholic families in Kansas will accept, and the need is definitely there.

"Foster care is supposed to be temporary," said Archbishop Keleher. "Unfortunately, as thousands of our state's children know, foster care sometimes outlasts childhood. If you believe in these children's right to a permanent loving family, please make a commitment to helping them find one."

Foster parents can be married or single adults over 21 years of age, families with or without children, homeowners or renters who meet basic safety requirements, wager earners, large or small, and people who have lots of love to share.

"We are excited about partnering with SRS on foster family recruitment," said Archbishop Keleher. "This is an opportunity to work through our parishes to help develop local support and generate interest through church members."

As part of this partnership between SRS and the Kansas Catholic Conference, SRS will be developing a packet of information for distribution to Catholic parishes across Kansas. In addition, SRS is partnering with the Conference to host symposiums on foster parenting at designated parishes across Kansas in the fall.

SRS Secretary Chronister said the effort by the Catholic Conference to help in the recruitment drive is much appreciated. Secretary Chronister also acknowledged the assistance provide by a group of Catholic legislators who were responsible for providing SRS the opportunity to meet with the Kansas Catholic Conference. These include Sen. Jim Barone, Frontenac, and Reps. Mike Farmer, Wichita, Brenda Landwehr, Wichita, Bill Reardon, Kansas City, and Kenny Wilk, Lansing.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001