Thursday, June 18, 2015 - Page 24

Healthy Families asks

community for help
Atchison County and surrounding communities in
Holt, Nodaway, Gentry, and
Worth counties have more
than 60 children in foster
care. Although many children have found homes with
relatives, others are in need

of foster families. Unfortunately, the demand for foster

homes is quickly exceeding
the supply. In order to meet
the demand, Healthy Families Programs, an agency
within
Cornerstones
of
Care, is asking community

members to consider becoming foster parents.

Our goals are simple,
said Ryan Dowis, chief operating officer of Cornerstones.
Keep children in their home
community so they can
maintain connections; keep
siblings together; and have
a variety of homes available
to meet the diverse needs of
the children in care. To attain those goals, we need to
increase the number of foster homes.
Children in foster care

have suffered from abuse

and neglect. According to
the Department of Health
and Human Services Child
Maltreatment report from
2012, within the U.S., 78.3%
of victims were neglected,
18.3 percent were physically abused, 9.3 percent
were sexually abused, and
8.5 percent were psychologically maltreated.
Needless to say, commented Dowis, children
who have experienced this
kind of treatment need
safe, stable, and nurturing
homes.
The ages of children in
foster care range from infancy to 21. In northwest
Missouri, the age group
with the highest population
is 15 years and older, which
comprises
approximately

25 percent of the children

in care. Unfortunately, that
same age group has the fewest options of foster homes.
Finding homes for older
children is one of Healthy
Families greatest challenges, said Dowis.
Healthy Families works
hand in hand with the Missouri Childrens Division to
train and license foster parents in Atchison County as
well as the 29 other counties of northwest Missouri.
The families with which
they work have varied backgrounds and experiences,
however, they all share a
willingness to commit and a
desire to make a difference
in a childs life.
Applicants to the foster
parent program must be 21
years of age or older; be in

good physical and mental

health; have a stable source
of income; pass a background
check; and ensure their home
meets safety requirements.
They must also complete a
27-hour training course and
participate in a home study.
Training classes are schedule to begin in Maryville on
September 1, 2015. You can
learn more about the foster
parenting program at www.
healthyfamilies4kids.org/
Licensing.
My hometown is Tarkio,
said Dowis. I have faith in
the whole Atchison County
community to step up and
help our children in need.
To start the foster parenting process or speak to
one of the Healthy Families
staff, call (855) SRV-KIDS
(855-778-5437).

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL-FAIRFAX - Honored employees at a ceremony held Friday,

June 5, 2015. Employees pictured are, from left to right: front row - Samantha Silkett, Medical Records, Toni Ray, Accounts Payable/Payroll, Connie Anderson, FNP, Becky Chastain,
Dietary, and Karen Easley, LPN; and back row - Barb Taylor, RN, Cindy Winstead, Surgery,
Becky Heits, FNP, Roger Steinkruger, CEO, Theresa Lee, FNP, and Gale Ball, Patient Accounts. (Photo By Ann Schlueter)

Hospital employees honored

for years of service

Community
HospitalFairfax was delighted to
honor 12 individuals who all
together have 275 years of
total service to Community
Hospital-Fairfax. The honorees were recognized at a
banquet on Friday, June 5,
2015, held at the River Inn
Resort. Attendees included the honorees and their
guests, and CH-F Board of
Directors and Leadership
members.

Those honored included:

Barbara Taylor - 45 years;
Karen Easley - 40 years;
Cindy Winstead - 40 years;
Becky Heits - 30 years;
Toni Ray - 30 years; Becky
Chastain - 25 years; Gale
Ball - 20 years; Connie Anderson - 10 years; Samantha Silkett - 10 years; Jamie
Burke - 10 years; Theresa
Lee - 10 years; and Dawn
Huntsman - five years.