District of Columbia: District in need of foster parents

In honor of National Foster Care Month, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Dr. Roque Gerald, acting director, DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA), have launched a month-long outreach campaign aimed at increasing the number of licensed foster parents in the District. Darryl "DMC" McDaniels from the legendary hip-hop group Run-DMC, who was adopted as an infant, serves as spokesman for the District's campaign.CFSA currently has access to 1,224 licensed foster homes in the Washington metropolitan area. However, only 438 or 36 percent of these homes are actually located within the District.

"When more District residents foster, more of our young people are placed in the city, keeping them close to their school, friends, family and other surroundings," said Mayor Fenty. The campaign's goal is to increase non-relative foster homes in the District from 440 to 500 or more over the next 18 months. The Freddie Mac Foundation is supporting the campaign through a $100,000 grant that will includes television advertising, the launch of a www.todaysfostercaredc.org, and an e-mail campaign targeting District residents.

Currently CFSA has 2,200 District children and youth up to age 21 in out-of-home care. CFSA recruits, trains, licenses, directly pays, and supports a cadre of "agency" foster parents. CFSA is seeking more District residents willing to:

1. Keep groups of brothers and sisters together while in care.

2. Foster youths with manageable physical disabilities.

3. Accept youths on short notice in emergency situations.

"I was fortunate to be adopted and for all children to have the opportunity to have love, encouragement, and guidance is the reason I'm going to do everything possible for children in the system," said Mc Daniels "Whether it's through adoption, foster care, or mentorship, I want them to have the ability to become the people they are destined to be." For more information, call 202-671-LOVE.