'Forever Families' Needed for PA Children in Foster Care

'Forever Families' Needed for PA Children in Foster Care

By Danielle Smith, Keystone State News Connection May is National Foster Care Month, and in Pennsylvania, more than 15,000 children are waiting for foster families. Their advocates are urging more people to open their homes to help. Carrie Eckhardt, assistant director of domestic services for Bethany Christian Services of the Greater Delaware Valley, said their goal is to support families and children through quality social services. She shared …

Committed to making a forever home for their foster child

For the first two years that 12-year-old Anna was with her foster family, all family birthdays were celebrated in secret. While Anna stayed in another room, the family would whisper-sing “Happy Birthday” in the kitchen. “If she knew it was your birthday, she’d throw a tantrum and ruin it for you,” says Granite Falls foster mom Jennifer Christensen, who also has three biological children between 15 and 21. “I thought, wow, it’s really strange tha…