Sunset Park event to benefit foster families

By Dave Clark

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | midnight

The Clark County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association will host its first walk for foster care 9 a.m. Saturday at Sunset Park.

Walk Me Home is part of a national effort initiated this year by the National Foster Parent Association.

Anita Stephens, president of Clark County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, said the national president wanted to adapt the concept from his past work with the National Cancer Society.

The Sunset Park event, from 7:30 a.m. to noon, will feature bands, face painters, balloon artists, bounce houses and finger-painting. There will also be a silent auction with 40 to 50 items as well as different vendors and exhibit booths.

"People can come find out how to become foster parents — anything surrounding foster care and child welfare," Stephens said. "Foster parents can meet other foster parents."

The effort coincides with the launch of the Clark County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association — a group formed this year. Past advocacy groups had existed but disbanded due to lack of interest, Stephens said.

"It's very difficult to get people to volunteer and keep doing it," Stephens said. "I spend an average of 20 to 30 hours a week on top of a full-time job and seven children."

The group works on providing summer camp for foster children as well as items such as toiletries, bedding and clothing.

"When you get a baby and don't have a crib or car seat, a foster subsidy can disappear very quickly," Stephens said.

The group also gives input on policies developed by the Department of Family Services and the workings of the court system.

Clark County currently has more than 3,000 children in foster care, Stephens said, with about 60 children entering foster care each month. In addition to caring for four of her own children, Stephens has adopted one former foster child and currently cares for two foster children.

Those attending Walk Me Home do not need to be directly connected to the foster care community, she said.

"This is giving people a chance to help foster children even though they can't be foster parents," Stephens said. "They can do something to help children in their own community."