Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST VALLEY CITY -- The Utah Foster Care Foundation is looking for more Latino and Hispanic families to foster children. The foundation kicked off an outreach campaign in the Salt Lake Valley Monday.
More than 600 Latino and Hispanic children need foster care homes in Utah but right now; only 65 Latino or Hispanic families are part of the program.
Ruth Gonzalez says she always wanted a big family. As a foster parent for eight years, she has helped raise 25 children of all ages.
Now, Gonzales is spreading the word about the new program aimed at attracting more Latino and Hispanic foster families.
Rosalia, who was with her mother Monday, was a foster child and is now adopted; so were two boys. The Gonzalez family had one son and are also hosting two foster children.
The Hispanic and Latino parents in foster care have a motto: "los niños traen vida," meaning "children bring life."
Of the 2,600 children in foster care, 26 percent are Latino and Hispanic. And of the 1,300 licensed foster and adoptive Utah families, only 5 percent are Latino or Hispanic.
"It is certainly much better for a child who is Hispanic to go into an Hispanic foster home. It helps maintain their cultural identity; keep their same customs, language, food, etcetera," said Christina LeCluyse, a recruiter for Utah Foster Care.
Members of the Utah Foster Care Foundation say they see a particular need right now for families fluent in Spanish and English.
E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com
