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Editorial: Home at Last
By Andrew Vrees and the Editorial Board
Editorial: Home at Last
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Editorial: Home at Last
By Andrew Vrees and the Editorial Board
Over the years, we have done quite a few stories here at WMUR shining a light on one the state's most vulnerable populations, children in the foster care system here in New Hampshire.That light often casts a shadow on DCYF – the Division of Children, Youth and Families – and often focuses on problems that need to be addressed within the system, but for a minute here, I want to talk about some of the great work this department does.It finds children who cannot safely be with their parents an alternative and permanent plan: a "Home at Last."Last year, 207 children were adopted from the New Hampshire foster care system. The department tells us that on average, the state has 500 licensed foster and adoptive families, but their goal is to increase that number by 20%. The greatest need right now is for foster and adoptive families to provide care for older youth – those between 14 and 17 who often remain in the system until they age out at 18. On "New Hampshire Chronicle," we have featured 64 children since 2014 that were living in the system, often older, many with disabilities, all who have suffered severe loss and trauma and are looking for families to call their own. Bringing their faces and personalities into your living rooms has helped dozens of these children find their Homes at Last. Viewers have come forward, felt the call to foster, and have grown their families thanks to this community outreach. We hope this ripple effect continues. If you can't foster a child, which is an enormous commitment, there's another way you can help. Head out to a participating Wendy's from now until May 26 and for just $1, purchase a coupon book for six junior Frosties and know that your money is going to help children and families grow and heal through fostering and adoption. For years, we have partnered with local Wendy's owners who have donated tens of thousands of dollars to the New Hampshire Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, an organization whose mission is to support foster families and adoptive parents and children. The franchise owners at Wendy's feel strongly that every child deserves a loving home, and so do we.

Over the years, we have done quite a few stories here at WMUR shining a light on one the state's most vulnerable populations, children in the foster care system here in New Hampshire.

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That light often casts a shadow on DCYF – the Division of Children, Youth and Families – and often focuses on problems that need to be addressed within the system, but for a minute here, I want to talk about some of the great work this department does.

It finds children who cannot safely be with their parents an alternative and permanent plan: a "Home at Last."

Last year, 207 children were adopted from the New Hampshire foster care system.

The department tells us that on average, the state has 500 licensed foster and adoptive families, but their goal is to increase that number by 20%. The greatest need right now is for foster and adoptive families to provide care for older youth – those between 14 and 17 who often remain in the system until they age out at 18.

On "New Hampshire Chronicle," we have featured 64 children since 2014 that were living in the system, often older, many with disabilities, all who have suffered severe loss and trauma and are looking for families to call their own.

Bringing their faces and personalities into your living rooms has helped dozens of these children find their Homes at Last. Viewers have come forward, felt the call to foster, and have grown their families thanks to this community outreach. We hope this ripple effect continues.

If you can't foster a child, which is an enormous commitment, there's another way you can help. Head out to a participating Wendy's from now until May 26 and for just $1, purchase a coupon book for six junior Frosties and know that your money is going to help children and families grow and heal through fostering and adoption.

For years, we have partnered with local Wendy's owners who have donated tens of thousands of dollars to the New Hampshire Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, an organization whose mission is to support foster families and adoptive parents and children.

The franchise owners at Wendy's feel strongly that every child deserves a loving home, and so do we.