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Foster family: 'It's a calling from God'
Bruce Matlock photo
Tim and Anj Shutt, along with her children Jacob, Raquel and Jaimie Blair, have room and love for one more in their Troutman home.
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Published: January 12, 2009
Tim and Anj Shutt have been fostering a 4-year-old boy for four months.
Tim was adopted as a child and grew up watching his parents foster other children.
Now he and his wife are doing the same because they felt led to do so.
"We both feel it's a calling from God," Anj said. "It's something Jesus Christ was calling us to do because of the need."
There is still a great need for foster parents in the county. Barium Springs Home for Children is trying fill the gap and find individuals who may be interested in fostering.
In the past six months Barium Springs officials have seen a lot of children between the ages of 3 and 6 needing placement. There are currently 20 children in the program, according to Foster Care Director Marc Murphy.
Murphy suspects the burden of the sagging economy has impacted some families' ability to properly care for their children.
"Since the economy has taken a turn for the worse I've noticed a spike in domestic violence as the reason why children are being taken into care," he said.
Murphy said substance abuse is also a leading factor for children being taken into custody.
To meet the growing demand for foster parents, Barium Springs is holding two open houses to attract potential foster parents.
Individuals who can provide respite to foster families on a temporary basis are also needed, Murphy said.
The first open house will be held from 6-8 p.m. today at Little Joe's Chapel on campus. The second will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church in Mooresville.
Anyone interested in fostering children can drop by to ask questions or receive information.
The open house is a precursor to training for potential foster parents. Training will be held during a six-week period from Jan. 26 to March 9. Participants will learn how to help children manage their behavior, therapeutic foster care, how to deal with relationships with the birth family, help children leave foster care, and understand the impact of foster care.
The need for foster parents is critical.
Last month Murphy had to turn away every call he received about placing children.
"To turn away a child in need is frustrating," he said. "We are here for the sole purpose of being a safe haven, but to say we have no openings defeats the sole purpose."
Last year in North Carolina, 10,543 children were in Department of Social Services custody, but there were only 7,129 foster homes in the state, according to Murphy.
"Thousands of kids in North Carolina don't have a place to live and they need foster care," he said.
The fostering experience has been wonderful for the Shutt family.
"It's been challenging, but very rewarding to see the progress he's making and seeing his confidence increase," Anj said.
Tim said the rewards "of fostering far outweigh the challenges.
"He has made great strides in a lot of areas and that's what keeps you going," he said.
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