need for foster families

system. abc seven’s josie ortegon tells us it’s no different in el paso, where there’s a dire need for families willing to open up their hearts and homes. pkg: “nats…pues…dal fuerte.” little samuel is a former foster child. his mother, claudia castillo took the boy in when he was only 7 months old. “sh says…when they enter, they’re very timid, you struggle to gain their confidence but little by little, living with them, the bond is strengthened, and they have more confidence in you. ” samuel’s biological mother was unable to care for him because of drug problems. her rights were terminated and after two years, claudia officially adopted samuel and his older brother. she’s fostering another child now. “in reality, to give them a place to stay, give them the comfort of a family and that they know there is happinness inside a home.” ther are hundreds more children like samuel in the el paso foster care system. veronica lowenberg, the foster care director at the el paso center for children, says they get between 5 to 10 requests a week from child protective services to place children. “where we’re running into a problem locally is there are not enough foster homes to provide temporary housing for these children and so oftentimes we have to send them out of state. lowenberg says they get hundreds of inquires from potential parents, but some are scared off after learning of past abuse. they’re not alone–families get support and training from cps and agencies to help guide them through difficult times. while it may not be easy… it’s worth it. “i can’ imagine what it would be like to suffer abuse in your home and then be removed form your home and then have to live in a complete stranger’s home they’re coming into care through no fault of their own.” jo abc7. if you’re interested in becoming a foster parent, you can contact the center for children at 915- 565-8361. information on the application process is also available online at kvia dot com.