TULSA, Okla. — More than 8,000 children under Oklahoma's child welfare system need a loving home.
In Tulsa County, there are about 1,400 kids in the Department of Human Service's (DHS) custody.
According to child welfare specialists, there is a big need in Tulsa County to increase the number of Hispanic and African American foster homes.
Currently, only about 13% of foster parents identify as either race, when there are 37% of children in custody who are Hispanic and African American.
"There is this need for the kids in care to be able to preserve their kin, their culture, their relationships with their family being in the same community they were in before they came into care," says Glen Evans, a Child Welfare Specialist with DHS.
The journey to become a foster parent could take from 30 to 90 days or even longer due to extensive background checks. DHS wants to ensure the children enter a safe environment.
For more information on how to become a foster parent, click here.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
