Department Of Children’s Services Seeing Growing Need For Foster Parents Statewide

The Department of Children’s Services is seeing a growing need for foster parents in the Upper Cumberland.

Foster Parent Recruitment Manager Talia Wisecarver said there are currently about 8,300 children statewide that need foster homes. She said in the Upper Cumberland, the biggest need is for homes that can house large sibling groups.

“We want to make sure the children we are placing, we are placing them in the best home the first time,” Wisecarver said. “Let’s say we get a sibling group of four kids. We want to place them all in the same home because those bonds are so important and we don’t want to separate them just because we don’t have the space.”

Wisecarver said to get started, you can fill out an inquiry online or call in to DCS. She said after that initial application, you continue through the rest of the process.

Wisecarver said the process to become a foster parent involves a background test, a home check, and a training program. She said they also do a review of the parent’s income and a health screening.

“We do have a very large need here in Tennessee, and you can help,” Wisecarver said. “I think sometimes we forget that we actually can help and can open our homes and make a difference.”