Monticello Live

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and The CALL in Southeast Arkansas hopes to bring necessary attention to the 56 children in their service area* currently in foster care through their Power of Local campaign.

The number of traditional foster homes available to accept local placements in Southeast Arkansas is critically low. In fact, 100% of Southeast Arkansas children in foster care are sadly placed outside of their home county because a local foster home was not available.

When children enter foster care, they are experiencing a difficult transition. Staying local (near friends, schools, familiar surroundings) helps provide stability during a time of uncertainty. Local placements help maintain a child’s sense of belonging, connection, and stability. To make this happen for Southeast Arkansas, it will take local families, local churches, and the local communities stepping up to ensure children can stay close to familiar places and people.

Non-local placements can make an already difficult transition even more challenging. Challenges created by long-distance placements include:

· Longer travel for weekly family visits, court hearings and caseworker meetings, often indirectly impacting school attendance due to travel time involved

· School change and loss of teachers, coaches, school connections

· Losing connections with church, mentors, therapists and local support system

· Loss of comforting faces and places in addition to the adjustments of life in a new community

The impact of children being displaced from their community can be far-reaching. Effects include a disruption to their education, distance from family, loss of local support and increased instability, creating additional stress during a time of crisis.

Instead, local placements provide:

· More convenience and less school absences for weekly family visits

· Possibility of other family connections (when appropriate) throughout the week

· Consistent relationships with teachers, counselors, and mentors

· Less disruption and more stability

· Stronger support system for both the child and their family

· Family reunification is more likely, which is the goal whenever possible for children in foster care

Foster care is not only about providing a home. It is about keeping a child rooted in the place they know and love. Ways the community can help include:

· Become a foster parent: Open your home to a child in need and help keep them close to their familiar surroundings

· Support local foster families: Offer your time, resources, or skills to families who are already fostering.

· Advocate for local foster care: Spread the word about the importance of keeping kids local and encourage others to get involved.

· Partner with your church: Help create a network of support for foster families in your area.

The CALL in Southeast Arkansas is here to help you explore how you can impact the children and families in your community. The CALL provides support for every step of the foster home licensing process as well as on-going support for open foster and adoptive homes as well as closed adoptive homes. Prospective foster families, volunteers, church partners, and community partners can contact their office at (870)308-9502 or email sea@thecallinarkansas.org.

Ways to Engage in Power of Local in Southeast Arkansas during May:

The CALL is collaborating with their partners at the Division of Children and Family Services as well as CASA of the 10th Judicial District to recognize these 56 children on May 12, 2025 with a balloon display and release on the Monticello town square at 10am. A special time

of prayer will take place over the children and families represented, as well. The community is invited to come and participate.

Churches and businesses in all six counties are hosting Power of Local displays during the month of May. Literature and information is available to the public at each of these displays. Limited displays and slots remain available and can be booked by contacting The CALL at (870)308-9502 or emailing sea@thecallinarkansas.org.

*Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, Drew, Lincoln counties