When it comes to caring for area foster children, one Shawnee, Oklahoma, family makes community the priority. Brit and Amber Hembree provide guidance and support for children in their greatest time of need as foster parents through Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s FireLodge Children and Family Services.
Before they even started dating, Reide and Robert Johnson each knew they wanted to become foster parents. They found their shared desire stemmed from their tribal heritage and became an approved foster home with Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s FireLodge Children & Family Service in September 2020.
CPN’s FireLodge Children and Family Services constantly searches for new Native American families to welcome a child into their home. Norman, Oklahoma, residents Jimmie and Greg Hodgkins began fostering through FireLodge in April 2020.
Native Americans are up to four times more likely to have their children taken and placed into foster care than their non-Native counterparts.
With support from FireLodge Children & Family Services, many Citizen Potawatomi Nation foster children successfully and safely return to their families. FireLodge answered some questions frequently asked by prospective families interested in fostering and adopting Potawatomi children.
While many potential foster parent applicants hesitated during 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tribal member Lacey Buettner opened up her home for the first time. After working with FireLodge Children & Family Services, she felt confident in stepping up to the task.
FireLodge Children & Family Services advocates for and protects children and vulnerable adults who are at risk of being abused or neglected. Social services and child welfare programs do not stop services, even amidst a global pandemic.
Preserving families and promoting healthy, safe homes for children is the goal of the FireLodge Children & Family Services Family Preservation Program.
Positive emotions humans experience actually broaden our sense of possibilities and allow us to then build new skills or resources that can positively impact our future.
Despite these recent events, FireLodge Children & Family Services continues our work in protecting and preserving Native American families. Child welfare programs do not discontinue services, even during a crisis.