LABELLE – At their April 22 meeting, Hendry County Commissioners declared May as Foster Care Awareness Month.

Rick Jacobs, of 4Kids Southwest Florida, accepted the proclamation.

Jacobs, who is a foster parent, explained “a typical foster parent in the State of Florida does it for 14 months and they quit, because it is hard work. My wife and I have done it for 18 years and we understand what that means.” He said the average for 4Kids foster parents is 42 months, triple the state average.

Jacobs said if a child in foster care moves five times over the course of their stay -- generally over three years -- 90% of those kids end up in the judicial system. That is a national statistic, he added.

He said the Department of Children and Families has set the goal at 4.25 moves or less. “We feel that bar is pretty low,” he said. In the 20^th Judicial Circuit, the foster system is not even meeting that goal, he added.  Kids are bouncing around from foster home to foster home, five times or more.

“A 4Kids family, our number is at 1.5. It’s a big difference. We recruit only through the faith-based community, and that is one of the reasons we feel we make a big difference,” he said.

The program focuses on three things: Hope, Homes and Healing. Hope includes programs to try to help a family stay together and keep the children out of the foster care system.  He said churches in Hendry County are already participating in that program, helping to provide support to families in need. “Homes” refers to providing a home for every child. “That is not happening right now,” in the 20^th Circuit. “We have kids who are sleeping in offices. We have kids who are being placed in other counties, outside of their county where they live, outside of Circuit 20. And we have kids who go to group homes, and there are not a lot of those left, but group homes are the worst-case scenario for a child. You may have a 4-year-old sleeping in the same room as a 14-year-old.”

Last year in Circuit 20, there were 112 foster homes that closed, and about 60 new ones were licensed. “You can do the math and see the need,” he said. “We want to find a home for every child.”

The final component is “Healing.”

“We have close to 30 therapists on our staff, that are licensed mental health therapists who focus on trauma-informed care. Every child that comes into foster care has suffered some level of trauma,” he continued.

The proclamation states: “May is recognized as National Foster Care Month to honor the contributions of foster parents, volunteers, child welfare professionals and others who work to ensure the safety and well-being of children in foster care.

“In Southwest Florida, there are over 1,400 children in foster care, and 540 removed in our 5-county region including 23 children removed from their homes in Hendry County in 2024 alone,” the proclamation states.

“The Board of County Commissioners, Hendry County, acknowledges the critical role of faith-based organizations in supporting and strengthening families through their services, including foster care programs and family support initiatives.

“4KIDS Southwest Florida provides compassionate care and support to children and families in our community, offering foster care services, training for foster parents, and advocacy for children who are in need of a loving and nurturing environment,” the proclamation continues.

“4KIDS Southwest Florida and other organizations like it work tirelessly to build partnerships with local congregations, businesses, and volunteers to raise awareness about the need for foster homes, encourage family unity, and help children find permanency through reunification, adoption, or guardianship.

“National Foster Care Awareness Month is an opportunity for all members of our community to recognize the sacrifices and dedication of foster families, raise awareness of the challenges faced by children in foster care, and take steps to support the work of foster care organizations.”