Perry County officials urgently seek more foster families amid overflow

Perry County is facing an urgent need for foster families as the region's child-welfare system remains overflooded following recent stresses on social services. Social workers and local child-welfare advocates report that demand for safe, licensed placements has increased, leaving caseworkers scrambling to keep children in local homes rather than sending them farther away.

The backlog has highlighted practical barriers that discourage prospective foster parents: lengthy paperwork, home studies and mandatory training requirements. County caseworkers report they are working to streamline licensing timelines and to provide supports designed to remove those obstacles. Support measures include expedited home studies, ongoing training, case management services and monthly stipends intended to offset the costs of caring for children.

Keeping children in Perry County matters for both social and economic reasons. When placements are available locally, children can remain in their schools and maintain community connections, reducing educational disruption and the additional costs of transportation or out-of-county placements. Faster local placements also reduce administrative burdens on county staff and can lower travel and foster-parent recruitment expenses borne by the child-welfare system.

Officials say the current strain is not limited to Perry County; surrounding counties are facing similar pressures, which contributes to longer waits for placements and occasional transfers of children to distant counties. Caseworkers emphasize that qualifying foster families come from many backgrounds and that supports are available through the local Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) to help families complete training and meet licensing requirements.

To make the process easier, county offices are focusing on practical fixes: shortening steps in the application and home-study process when safe to do so, coordinating training schedules to accommodate working families, and assigning dedicated case managers to newly licensed homes so placements can proceed more quickly. The stipend program is intended to cover day-to-day expenses such as clothing, school supplies and transportation until longer-term arrangements are in place.

Residents interested in fostering in Perry County or nearby communities should contact their local Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) or the WYMT newsroom to learn how to apply and what supports are available. Local leaders stress that new foster homes provide not only immediate safety for children but also stabilize families and neighborhoods over time.

For Perry Countians, the need is immediate: expanding the pool of licensed foster families will keep more children close to home, reduce strain on county services and help rebuild local support networks. Officials say they will continue expediting licensing and outreach in the coming weeks as they work to place children safely and quickly in homes within the community.