There's a growing need for foster parents in the Tennessee Valley...as more children are placed into state custody.
Now there's a new place to train parents.
WDEF News 12's Nordia Epps takes us to the ribbon cutting at the Children's Home Chambliss Shelter.
It celebrates a new place for people in Hamilton and nine surrounding counties to learn how to fill a critical need.
Phil Acord, President and CEO of Children's Home Chambliss Shelter, "There's a great demand for foster homes right now. There's an increased number of children in state custody."
Thanks to a $25,000 donation from the folks at the law firm Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel...there's a new training facility at the Children's Home Chambliss Shelter.
With that room Chambliss now has a contract with the State to train Parents As Tender Healers.
Dana Perry, Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, "Just being able to help support vulnerable children and families and enable these children who're coming from just a very difficult home life find loving families so they can be raised right is just critical."
People interested in helping to raise these children right will go through seven weeks of training at this newly designated PATH facility....hearing from the experts and seasoned foster parents.
Holly Wilson, Training Specialist, "We talk about trauma and the impact that trauma has on children's lives and their behaviors. We talk about discipline and we talk about cultural awareness."
Along with classroom time and homework foster parent hopefuls must complete several home studies before becoming certified.
Johanna Jensen, Training Director, "The foster parents have to adjust to a child who's coming from a completely different background having a different set of experiences not used to the rules in their home."
The goal, provide a safe place the children can call home.
The law firm has a long history with Chambliss that goes back to the 1940s.
Chambliss operates an early education and child care program as well as a home for children.
