Latest / Community Spotlight / From Crisis to Care
Transcript
- WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:02.850 <v 0>The Light FM presents Community Spotlight,</v> 2 00:00:02.940 --> 00:00:06.810 a program designed to focus on what's important to you in your community. 3 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:10.170 Now here's Braxton with today's Community Spotlight. 4 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:16.350 <v 1>We thank you so much for joining us on this episode of Community Spotlight.</v> 5 00:00:16.350 --> 00:00:20.790 I'm Braxton, and we're going to take a look at Western North Carolina, 6 00:00:21.180 --> 00:00:22.050 the Piedmont, 7 00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:26.910 and what's happening in those local communities for the foster care 8 00:00:26.910 --> 00:00:28.380 community. Big, 9 00:00:28.380 --> 00:00:32.700 big topic that there's a huge need for families to 10 00:00:33.180 --> 00:00:37.590 lend a hand to children who have been through things that I could never 11 00:00:37.590 --> 00:00:41.610 imagine, right here in Western North Carolina, the Piedmont, 12 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:43.230 and so big, 13 00:00:43.230 --> 00:00:47.910 big need and excited to have Debbie Smiley and James Carroll from Davidson 14 00:00:47.910 --> 00:00:51.810 Family Services with us today on Community Spotlight. Welcome. 15 00:00:53.100 --> 00:00:54.750 <v 2>Hey, Brexton. Thank you for having us.</v> 16 00:00:55.140 --> 00:00:57.750 <v 1>Yes. So, wow,</v> 17 00:00:57.750 --> 00:01:01.050 what a big topic and a short time to talk about all of it. 18 00:01:01.980 --> 00:01:06.390 But I guess tell me first about Davidson Family Services and how you got 19 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:07.800 involved and what you do. 20 00:01:08.910 --> 00:01:12.060 <v 2>All right. My name is Debbie Smiley. I'm the foster care director.</v> 21 00:01:12.360 --> 00:01:14.220 I started there in 2016. 22 00:01:14.220 --> 00:01:19.140 We revamped the foster care program and it has just really took off, 23 00:01:19.140 --> 00:01:19.650 James, 24 00:01:19.650 --> 00:01:23.880 because of the great need there is in the state of North Carolina for foster 25 00:01:23.880 --> 00:01:28.050 parents. We have been very successful, but we still need foster parents. 26 00:01:29.910 --> 00:01:30.743 <v 1>What about you, James?</v> 27 00:01:34.650 --> 00:01:35.483 <v 3>Apologies there.</v> 28 00:01:35.940 --> 00:01:38.460 I've been with the Davidson Family Service for about eight months now. 29 00:01:38.520 --> 00:01:41.790 Handling public relations, community outreach, that sort of thing. 30 00:01:42.030 --> 00:01:44.460 It's been a great group coming from more of a corporate, 31 00:01:44.790 --> 00:01:47.220 the world and economic development. This was a nice change. 32 00:01:47.220 --> 00:01:51.540 It feels good to give back and working for something with real meaning 33 00:01:52.230 --> 00:01:56.460 and helping populations that certainly need it. So about eight months in for me. 34 00:01:56.820 --> 00:01:58.080 <v 1>So Debbie's still breaking you in?</v> 35 00:01:58.530 --> 00:02:00.180 <v 3>Oh yeah. Still paying the dues.</v> 36 00:02:01.500 --> 00:02:06.060 <v 1>Good. For somebody listening who's maybe thought about it before,</v> 37 00:02:06.210 --> 00:02:08.790 and this is kind of bringing that back up in their mind, 38 00:02:08.790 --> 00:02:11.760 what does it really take to be a foster parent? What's it involve? 39 00:02:12.720 --> 00:02:16.200 <v 2>Well, you must be at least 21 years old,</v> 40 00:02:16.200 --> 00:02:21.090 be willing to go through a curriculum that the state has for all foster parents, 41 00:02:21.420 --> 00:02:26.190 and our trainings are free. You've got to be able to pass a drug test, 42 00:02:26.190 --> 00:02:27.270 criminal background check. 43 00:02:27.570 --> 00:02:31.290 But the biggest thing is to have a spot for a kid in your home, 44 00:02:31.950 --> 00:02:34.020 have room for a child in your home. 45 00:02:34.200 --> 00:02:37.710 There are guidelines by the state of how many you can have, 46 00:02:38.100 --> 00:02:42.600 but we take you through the entire process and it is a free process. 47 00:02:43.600 --> 00:02:45.090 <v 1>Okay. Now, I know that you,</v> 48 00:02:45.090 --> 00:02:49.770 obviously Debbie had worked in ministry before this position at Davidson 49 00:02:49.770 --> 00:02:50.670 Family Services, 50 00:02:50.670 --> 00:02:55.440 and you knew about the foster care community and that ministry, 51 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:57.990 but you didn't really know about it. 52 00:02:58.050 --> 00:03:02.350 So what kind of shocked you first when you got 53 00:03:03.010 --> 00:03:06.160 to helping with foster care and what kind of opened your eyes to what's really 54 00:03:06.160 --> 00:03:07.420 going on behind the scenes? 55 00:03:08.230 --> 00:03:13.180 <v 2>Well, I think it was children being so young from the age of three</v> 56 00:03:14.830 --> 00:03:19.720 to eight or 10 that have been abused by the hands of 57 00:03:19.720 --> 00:03:23.860 their family members and family members that have allowed it to happen. 58 00:03:24.160 --> 00:03:26.050 And these children are so traumatized. 59 00:03:26.410 --> 00:03:31.270 It takes a good bit of therapy therapists that 60 00:03:31.270 --> 00:03:34.030 work with them to help them be able to live a normal life. 61 00:03:34.330 --> 00:03:35.950 That was a big shocker for me, 62 00:03:36.970 --> 00:03:41.860 but it's out there and there could be a child beside of you living near 63 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:45.820 you that's being abused and nobody ever know unless it's reported by our school 64 00:03:45.820 --> 00:03:49.240 system. They're self reporters. But that was my biggest shock, 65 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:53.950 that they're so young. But the great thing Braxton, is children are resilient. 66 00:03:54.310 --> 00:03:58.420 It's just amazing to me and so rewarding to see a child come into care at a 67 00:03:58.420 --> 00:04:02.620 young age, and after a few years they're resilient. 68 00:04:03.370 --> 00:04:05.980 If they're in a structured home with love and care, 69 00:04:06.790 --> 00:04:08.380 they can get to a normal place. 70 00:04:09.640 --> 00:04:14.320 <v 1>And I'm sure that gives you all sorts of rewarding feelings to</v> 71 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:17.440 see a child go from where they were to where they could be. 72 00:04:18.310 --> 00:04:22.840 <v 2>Absolutely. Just since January, we have had six children be adopted.</v> 73 00:04:24.010 --> 00:04:28.300 So throughout since 2016, I guess we've had 15 adoptions. 74 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:33.610 So to have a child or forever home is probably the greatest gift we 75 00:04:33.610 --> 00:04:35.950 could give. And going back to ministry, 76 00:04:35.950 --> 00:04:40.450 I personally feel like ministry fostering is a ministry. 77 00:04:40.450 --> 00:04:45.310 It's got to be something you feel in your heart that's something you want to do. 78 00:04:45.790 --> 00:04:50.710 But I believe if there were those out there that prayed about it and thought 79 00:04:50.710 --> 00:04:54.580 about it and learn more about it, I think it's something I could do. 80 00:04:54.640 --> 00:04:57.310 And they don't have to be a full-time foster parent. 81 00:04:57.580 --> 00:05:02.560 We need respite providers that could watch children Friday 82 00:05:02.570 --> 00:05:03.430 through Sunday. 83 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:09.280 We just need foster parents that are willing and able to work with 84 00:05:09.280 --> 00:05:11.950 children who have been traumatized because Braxton, 85 00:05:11.950 --> 00:05:13.540 when kids have been traumatized, 86 00:05:13.930 --> 00:05:17.500 they of course get a diagnosis and there are behaviors that follow those 87 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:21.640 diagnosis. And for us, if you had your own biological child, 88 00:05:21.880 --> 00:05:25.390 you don't throw them out because they have a DHD or 89 00:05:26.080 --> 00:05:28.420 PTSD. We don't throw them out. 90 00:05:28.780 --> 00:05:32.020 We keep them and we find resources to help them. 91 00:05:32.290 --> 00:05:36.220 So we need dedicated parents that are willing to work with us to help kids get 92 00:05:36.230 --> 00:05:37.450 the services they need. 93 00:05:38.410 --> 00:05:38.650 <v 1>Yeah,</v> 94 00:05:38.650 --> 00:05:43.510 I think one of the most overused words in the last several years is the word 95 00:05:43.510 --> 00:05:44.343 shortage. 96 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:48.910 And I've heard many times that there's a shortage of foster families. 97 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:52.180 So what kind of shortage are we really talking about though? 98 00:05:52.900 --> 00:05:53.733 <v 2>Wow,</v> 99 00:05:54.630 --> 00:05:59.420 you're talking a big shortage because was on the news not 100 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:02.330 long ago that I think it was in Raleigh, 101 00:06:02.690 --> 00:06:07.190 that they have turned one of their buildings into a overnight kind of 102 00:06:07.190 --> 00:06:11.810 motel for kids. Even in Western North Carolina and Piedmont, 103 00:06:12.260 --> 00:06:14.330 if a child does not have a place to go, 104 00:06:14.870 --> 00:06:17.840 or either they go to a foster home and their behavior becomes so bad, 105 00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:20.870 they have to leave the home, they sleep at DSS. 106 00:06:21.710 --> 00:06:26.510 So you're taking DSS workers that are working overtime to stay all 107 00:06:26.520 --> 00:06:29.300 night with these children. Then they go to school the next day, 108 00:06:29.310 --> 00:06:30.710 but they come back to DSS. 109 00:06:30.980 --> 00:06:35.690 One child I do know of was at DSS in the western area for 110 00:06:35.690 --> 00:06:38.960 three months before they could find a place for the child to go. 111 00:06:39.260 --> 00:06:43.160 This happens every day, every day throughout North Carolina. 112 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:47.450 There are children sleeping on the couches at DSS. So yes, 113 00:06:47.450 --> 00:06:49.520 we need foster parents. We really do. Wow. 114 00:06:49.830 --> 00:06:53.570 And the awareness of needing those foster parents. 115 00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:57.710 <v 1>What's the exact area that you serve for folks that are listening?</v> 116 00:06:58.970 --> 00:07:02.030 <v 2>We serve all the way from Asheville to Andrews,</v> 117 00:07:02.330 --> 00:07:07.010 and then all the way from Asheville the other direction in Gaston County. 118 00:07:07.670 --> 00:07:10.370 <v 1>Okay, so pretty much everything west of Charlotte?</v> 119 00:07:11.090 --> 00:07:11.923 <v 2>Absolutely.</v> 120 00:07:12.260 --> 00:07:13.100 <v 1>Yes. Okay. Alright.</v> 121 00:07:16.070 --> 00:07:20.840 I was curious about when you get to see a child from age three or 122 00:07:20.840 --> 00:07:23.450 whatever age all the way through the foster care system, 123 00:07:23.450 --> 00:07:28.280 have you been able to keep up with their journey after and see how they're 124 00:07:28.280 --> 00:07:29.113 doing? 125 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:32.570 <v 2>Absolutely. James is our marketing director.</v> 126 00:07:32.900 --> 00:07:37.100 He recently has done some videos, 127 00:07:37.110 --> 00:07:41.480 we've done stories and he posts those, but they are success stories. 128 00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:44.900 We did have a young girl who came into care at five. 129 00:07:45.440 --> 00:07:48.980 She stayed with a family and graduated. 130 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:51.620 She just got married about two weeks ago. 131 00:07:53.210 --> 00:07:57.050 Three siblings, A wonderful, wonderful story, 132 00:07:57.590 --> 00:08:00.830 and it's very rewarding to know that. I mean, 133 00:08:00.830 --> 00:08:03.920 she's doing wonderful and she wants to be a social worker. 134 00:08:04.520 --> 00:08:08.870 Most kids that are successful in care know what they went through, 135 00:08:09.230 --> 00:08:12.020 so they want to be a social worker so they can help other kids. 136 00:08:13.490 --> 00:08:16.040 <v 1>What gives you hope about foster care?</v> 137 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:19.160 <v 2>I think it's my faith in the Lord,</v> 138 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:23.990 and I think it's having good workers and good social workers to work 139 00:08:23.990 --> 00:08:26.900 with and just a good company to work for, 140 00:08:26.900 --> 00:08:31.460 and we just have to keep believing every day that I'm going to see two parents 141 00:08:31.460 --> 00:08:34.760 today in Cleveland County, that they're out there. 142 00:08:34.770 --> 00:08:38.960 There are good parents out there. And the hope that what little we do, 143 00:08:39.350 --> 00:08:44.330 because not the only private agency, there's lots of wonderful private agencies, 144 00:08:44.750 --> 00:08:49.610 just the hope that we can help just one child at a time and make a difference in 145 00:08:49.610 --> 00:08:51.140 our community and our state. 146 00:08:51.800 --> 00:08:54.740 <v 1>Yeah. Ultimately, I don't know what kind of timeline this might be,</v> 147 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:59.610 but what do you think it's really going to take to make real progress? 148 00:08:59.610 --> 00:09:01.590 See big impacts? What's it going to take. 149 00:09:02.700 --> 00:09:06.750 <v 2>What we're doing right now? Just let the word be known.</v> 150 00:09:08.130 --> 00:09:09.180 There's a statistic, 151 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:13.170 and I'm surprised because I'm not sure if Covid had anything to do with it, 152 00:09:13.170 --> 00:09:15.810 but back in 2019, 153 00:09:17.040 --> 00:09:21.120 the licensing of foster parents has actually dropped. 154 00:09:21.570 --> 00:09:25.020 And I do think a lot of it was due to covid and people kind of getting in their 155 00:09:25.020 --> 00:09:29.370 own little circle world and didn't really think outside the box. 156 00:09:29.610 --> 00:09:33.060 And we are just now getting to a place where more people are wanting to be 157 00:09:33.060 --> 00:09:34.980 foster parents. But like I said, 158 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:38.670 we've got over 50 foster parents, 159 00:09:38.850 --> 00:09:43.410 but that is never enough because I got to say this about foster parents. 160 00:09:44.160 --> 00:09:47.370 We don't make our foster parents take any child. It's about matching. 161 00:09:47.380 --> 00:09:48.630 It's the matching process. 162 00:09:49.050 --> 00:09:52.680 You may get a foster parent and we got to respect what they want. 163 00:09:53.010 --> 00:09:57.150 Maybe they don't want a 17-year-old person to foster. Well, 164 00:09:57.150 --> 00:10:01.590 then they'll wait on that age child that they won't. But I mean, 165 00:10:01.590 --> 00:10:04.680 if we had every child that came in and all of our parents said, 166 00:10:04.680 --> 00:10:05.550 I'll take this one, 167 00:10:05.880 --> 00:10:10.500 but we can't do that because some of them come in with behaviors that 168 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:15.300 they just can't deal with or they don't need to put these kids in their home. 169 00:10:15.570 --> 00:10:18.120 We do have kids that are cruel to animals. Well, 170 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:21.540 we're not going to put a child that does that in a home with a person that has 171 00:10:21.540 --> 00:10:22.373 10 animals. 172 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:27.390 So it's all based on the matching process and getting the word out there. Just, 173 00:10:27.780 --> 00:10:32.370 I really wish more churches would open their doors to 174 00:10:32.880 --> 00:10:33.660 allowing us. 175 00:10:33.660 --> 00:10:38.580 James has been advocating at churches in the areas just so I could just go talk 176 00:10:38.580 --> 00:10:42.300 to them about the need and let 'em pray about it. 177 00:10:42.300 --> 00:10:44.310 And if this is something you think you could do, 178 00:10:44.640 --> 00:10:47.610 I know there's people out there, Braxton. I know there is. 179 00:10:47.910 --> 00:10:49.830 It's just bringing it to their attention. 180 00:10:50.670 --> 00:10:54.750 <v 1>You said you have about 50 families at Davidson Family Services.</v> 181 00:10:55.110 --> 00:10:59.250 What's the number that's in your mind that you would like to be at where you'd 182 00:10:59.250 --> 00:11:00.083 feel comfortable? 183 00:11:00.930 --> 00:11:01.763 <v 2>A hundred.</v> 184 00:11:02.070 --> 00:11:02.903 <v 1>Really double.</v> 185 00:11:03.660 --> 00:11:08.190 <v 2>Yeah, a hundred. Because I get, and I'll say it's very important,</v> 186 00:11:08.490 --> 00:11:13.410 every day I get at least eight referrals, 187 00:11:13.920 --> 00:11:16.380 eight a day for referrals. 188 00:11:16.950 --> 00:11:21.570 And most of them we're not able to take due to maybe you may have a child that's 189 00:11:21.570 --> 00:11:23.370 eight years old and they've got visits, 190 00:11:23.760 --> 00:11:28.350 so you're not going to have a social worker can't drive two hours to do a visit 191 00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:32.730 in one of the homes in Piedmont or the Western area. 192 00:11:32.730 --> 00:11:36.810 So there are so many factors involved. So yeah, if I had a hundred families, 193 00:11:37.470 --> 00:11:38.700 I think we could make an impact. 194 00:11:39.030 --> 00:11:41.580 <v 1>Okay. James, how can somebody get in touch?</v> 195 00:11:42.630 --> 00:11:45.630 <v 3>Yeah, if someone's interested in the program or we have informational sessions,</v> 196 00:11:45.630 --> 00:11:50.100 they can hop on first. Debbie does those virtually. For ease of accessibility, 197 00:11:50.910 --> 00:11:52.770 the best route is to call our recruiting. 198 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:56.140 Chrissy is her name and I can provide that phone number if you'd like that. 199 00:11:56.140 --> 00:11:56.470 Sure. 200 00:11:56.470 --> 00:12:01.270 That's 8 2 8 2 9 9 1 7 2 0 201 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:03.880 and then extension Q seven three to get in touch with Chrissy. 202 00:12:04.690 --> 00:12:07.330 But also feel free to reach touch. Debbie, visit our website. 203 00:12:07.660 --> 00:12:09.970 We have that as well. Our Facebook, all the links are there. 204 00:12:09.970 --> 00:12:14.500 We're very easy to reach and get in touch with, and we'll start the process. 205 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:15.760 But I think the first step, Debbie, 206 00:12:15.970 --> 00:12:19.090 is that people go to these informational sessions and learn that it's not 207 00:12:19.090 --> 00:12:21.910 overnight. You want to be a foster parent. It doesn't just happen in a week. 208 00:12:21.910 --> 00:12:25.090 It's a three month process to really vet people for this. 209 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:28.330 It's not a minor undertaking. It's pretty serious stuff. 210 00:12:28.330 --> 00:12:29.950 So you want to make sure that they're serious about it, 211 00:12:29.950 --> 00:12:31.330 they understand it's going to take three months, 212 00:12:31.510 --> 00:12:34.960 and that's how we kind of start them and see if they're serious about this. 213 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:36.693 <v 1>What's the website?</v> 214 00:12:37.450 --> 00:12:42.280 <v 3>It's davidson family services.org. Ww davidson family services.org.</v> 215 00:12:42.280 --> 00:12:44.410 Just our name and then.org versus comm. 216 00:12:45.040 --> 00:12:48.430 <v 1>Okay, very good. I think you broke him in pretty good there, Debbie.</v> 217 00:12:51.370 --> 00:12:55.330 <v 3>I did want to say one last thing. Braxton is, I think Debbie alluded to earlier,</v> 218 00:12:55.510 --> 00:12:57.940 we're talking about how we get out there and market this. 219 00:12:58.540 --> 00:13:00.910 We do a few different things from the marketing perspective. 220 00:13:00.910 --> 00:13:03.850 We reach out to Kirk to let 'em know what we're up to. 221 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:08.530 Debbie spoke about that eloquently. We also get out and about in public. 222 00:13:08.530 --> 00:13:11.530 We go to tourist baseball games and set up a table with information. 223 00:13:11.530 --> 00:13:13.060 We go to Chamber of Commerce meetings. 224 00:13:13.180 --> 00:13:14.860 All these touch points are very important. 225 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:17.920 And while not everyone may yield and a family, 226 00:13:17.950 --> 00:13:20.020 it's just getting out there and consistently telling the story. 227 00:13:20.020 --> 00:13:21.760 Maybe it's not that individual who heard it. 228 00:13:21.760 --> 00:13:24.310 Maybe they have a friend and they say, Hey, I was actually hearing something. 229 00:13:24.520 --> 00:13:27.910 Are you an empty nester now? Or don't you have the ability and the home, 230 00:13:27.910 --> 00:13:30.700 the means perhaps to do something like this? Haven't you been looking for 231 00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:33.850 something? So we just get out there as much as we can. Farmers, markets, 232 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.690 those type of things, 233 00:13:34.690 --> 00:13:37.720 and connect with the community and let them know this is what's going on. 234 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:41.410 It can be tricky setting up a table sometimes because it takes about five 235 00:13:41.410 --> 00:13:44.260 minutes to explain. As you probably understood, it's not a quick hit. 236 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:47.530 It's not that we're selling this pan or we're selling this item. 237 00:13:47.890 --> 00:13:49.990 It's a commitment, and I know it sometimes we're like, oh, 238 00:13:49.990 --> 00:13:52.000 I don't want to be bothered with this. I'm not doing it. 239 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:55.360 So if people just give us five to 10 minutes to explain what we're up to, 240 00:13:55.630 --> 00:13:58.690 what the requirements are, they may be interested in doing it. 241 00:13:58.690 --> 00:14:01.300 So it's not short format. It takes about five, 10 minutes, 242 00:14:01.300 --> 00:14:03.550 but people hear it and then light up or may know somebody. 243 00:14:03.550 --> 00:14:06.370 So I just want to make sure we're out there trying to do those types of things 244 00:14:06.370 --> 00:14:09.280 to bring folks in to at least listen and join an informational session. 245 00:14:09.880 --> 00:14:13.090 <v 1>Right. Well, I'm sure folks will see you guys in the community,</v> 246 00:14:13.210 --> 00:14:16.390 everything west of Charlotte for Davidson Family Services. 247 00:14:16.400 --> 00:14:20.440 So thank you for your heart, for the community, for the Lord, 248 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:25.030 and for children that need foster families. So thank you too for what you do. 249 00:14:25.510 --> 00:14:26.620 <v 0>Thank you, Braxton, for.</v> 250 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:28.630 <v 3>Having us. Yeah, thank you for the time, Braxton.</v> 251 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:32.890 <v 1>And also thanks to our sponsor, Turner Business Appraisers in Matthews,</v> 252 00:14:32.890 --> 00:14:33.723 North Carolina. 253 00:14:34.780 --> 00:14:36.880 <v 0>We hope you enjoyed today's community spotlight,</v> 254 00:14:36.880 --> 00:14:39.790 covering issues that matter to you in your community. 255 00:14:40.210 --> 00:14:42.700 If you have a suggestion for a future program, 256 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:46.600 just call 803 3 0 96 48. 257 00:14:46.810 --> 00:14:50.710 That's 803 3 0 9 6 4 8. 258 00:14:51.160 --> 00:14:55.240 Be sure to join us next week for another community spotlight with Braxton on the 259 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:56.080 Light fm.