OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) \u2014 As Oklahoma\u2019s foster care system continues to face an urgent need for safe homes, Sunbeam Family Services is looking to recruit 25 new foster parents this fall, with a special focus on families able to care for sibling groups, teenagers, and short-term or emergency placements for children of all ages.<\/p>\n
Nearly 6,000 Oklahoma children are in foster care on any given day, according to Sunbeam. The agency is encouraging individuals and families across central Oklahoma to consider fostering, saying a stable home can provide the support and connection children need to thrive.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecoming a foster parent doesn’t mean you have all the answers,\u201d said Destyni Trayler, senior program director at Sunbeam Family Services. \u201cIt means being willing to provide safety, consistency and connection to a child who needs it. At Sunbeam, we surround foster families with a team, resources and support so they aren’t navigating the foster care journey on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organization offers what it describes as comprehensive support for foster families, including 24\/7 access to foster care experts, trauma-informed training online and in person, and support from trauma-certified therapists and mental health consultants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere isn\u2019t just one way to be a foster family,\u201d Trayler said. \u201cChildren deserve safety, connection, consistency and a sense of belonging. That might mean welcoming a child for a short stay, keeping brothers and sisters together, supporting a teenager or providing stability for a longer season. We\u2019re looking for families willing to explore where they can make a difference, and Sunbeam will surround them with a team every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sunbeam said it welcomes foster parents from all backgrounds and family structures. The agency also encourages foster families to support positive, healthy connections between children and their biological families whenever possible through a practice known as \u201cbridging,\u201d which Sunbeam said can help children feel supported by multiple caring adults.<\/p>\n