The Women of Eckerd Connects Caring for Children, Helping Families Across WNC

Photo Credit: Heather Barnes of Seeking Sunshine Photography

By Meg Hale Brunton

Founded in 1975, the goal of Caring for Children (CFC) has always been to help families in Western North Carolina. The program, part of Eckerd Connects, provides assistance to families that are experiencing crises, helps find temporary homes for children in the foster care system, and trains people who want to become foster parents for these children. 

Prior to working in the field, Executive Director Amy Hobson says that when she thought about ‘foster care,’ she would visualize scenes from 1980s television sitcoms. “I had this preconceived notion of what fostering looked like and that is not the reality at all,” she explains, adding this inaccurate idea prevents many people from thinking they can become foster parents. 

While Amy loves her job, she acknowledges it can be demanding. “My cell phone has not been off since I started in 2009,” she says. “We support families with children in WNC that are struggling, in a proactive, supportive manner. [CFC] is a living example of what I always wanted to be part of. I wake up every morning, excited about what I do.” Amy corresponds with everyone from families in crisis, to potential donors, to fosters and potential fosters. Amy feels very fortunate to get to work with children and families, and also to work with amazing women like Licensing and Recruitment Specialist Maddie Brown and Licensing and Family Foster Care Supervisor Hannah Moore.

Hannah and Maddie have both been with the company for over ten years. One of their main focuses at CFC is training. Together, they teach two foster parenting courses: Model Approach to Partnerships in Partnering Series (MAPPS), and Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety & Permanence (TIPS). The courses try hard to balance safety training with fun activities, and also create a scenario in which prospective foster parents can connect with each other. The courses, along with the accompanying book series, Deciding Together, give the potential foster parent a little insight into what to expect from taking in a foster child. 

During CFC’s in-depth interview process with their foster families, Hannah explains people are encouraged to open up about their ‘parenting experience.’ She goes on to say that a ‘perfect life’ is not a requirement for a foster parent, and that having experienced past familial challenges can often make a person more emotionally-capable to meet a child where they are. “I think it’s the willingness to learn, to be flexible,” Hannah says of what makes a successful foster parent. “To see a child for who they are and not their trauma, and to help them take their childhood back because it may have been taken from them.” 

There are several ways to help CFC support the families under their care, besides becoming a full-time foster parent. Other options are mentoring, babysitting, or respite (short-term) fostering. “There are so many ways for individuals to get involved, to open their hearts,” Amy explains, adding that county and private foster care groups are always in need of more foster parents. She hopes to break down some of the barriers and help people understand that they actually can help these vulnerable children.

Since CFC is a private agency, they get to work hand-in-hand with the Department of Social Services (DSS), but do not have all of the same restrictions. For instance, DSS can only license family foster homes, whereas private agencies can also work with therapeutic homes, specialized care facilities, and Medicaid facilities. “We’re able to provide care and support for our foster families at the same level we do for our kids. It’s a mutual selection process,” says Maddie, adding that it takes a lot of passion to be a foster parent, along with a desire to make a difference. 

Besides connecting foster parents and kids, CFC provides programs to assist families that are in the midst of a crisis, such as domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, lack of childcare, or a negative DSS report. “We’re just trying to have an agency that is welcoming to everyone in all walks of life that can be impactful for children,” says Hannah. “Our first priority is supporting our families. If our families don’t feel supported, their children can’t exist in a safe and secure home.” 

Amy, Hannah and Maddie agree that the work they do would be impossible were they not such a tight-knit group. Amy says that difficult days are, unfortunately, an occupational hazard in their industry, and that they are lucky to have each other to lean on. “I’m always reminded of the courage and commitment these families and children display in trying to increase protective factors for their families,” Amy says. “Making sure everyone has a voice, that everyone is seen and appreciated – that, for me, is really the driving force.”  

For more information on Caring for Children and Eckerd Connects, visit their website: https://eckerd.org/family-children-services/foster-and-adoption/

To learn how you can help a foster child, email them directly at: fostercare@caring4children.org