More “Olympian” Foster Parents Needed To Care For Children And Youth In Our Community

Kingston, N.Y. – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and Commissioner of Social Service Michael A. Iapoce, Esq.  announce that the Ulster County Department of Social Services is continuously seeking “Olympian” parents to provide foster care to children and youth in the community and is excited to highlight a new initiative aimed at accomplishing this goal.  There is now a new Foster Care Services section of the county government website (www.ulstercountyny.gov) which sends this message: “All parents are athletes. Foster parents are Olympians because they go the extra mile!” The site includes information on how to become a foster parent, as well as an online form for contacting the Office of Children and Family Services. Visitors to the site can easily link to other resources on foster and adoptive parenting.

“Foster care provides children with temporary, loving, and safe homes when their own families are unable to care for them,” said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein. “Foster parents become part of a county-wide team, working together to support, nurture and protect our children in need.”

“Our greatest need is for foster families that will accept sibling groups or teenagers into their homes,” said Michael A. Iapoce, Esq., Ulster County Social Services Commissioner. “Our teens need strong role models who will offer them guidance as they learn to live independently.”

Anyone interested in becoming a foster parent or learning more about foster parenting is welcome to visit the County website, fill out the online form or call Children and Family Services at 845-334-5400.   The direct link to the Foster Care webpage is http://ulstercountyny.gov/social-services/children-and-family-services/foster-care-services.