Make a difference, be a foster parent

To the Editor:
Picture this: Your phone rings, and the caller says that an 8-year-old child who you’ve never met needs a place to stay and is on their way to your house. You’re nervous, but you’re ready.

You know this child needs help; you’ve received the training, and your support team has your back. You’re a foster parent, and you’re ready to make a difference. And you have my utmost gratitude.

My name is Stephanie Klein. I’m from Guilderland and I’m a Northern Rivers Family of Services foster parent homefinder. I work with people throughout the Albany region to find and support foster homes for kids from right here who need a safe place to heal and grow.

And I’m so lucky to work with more than 50 families right here who don’t think twice about answering that call and opening their homes to someone in need.

These foster families are part of the fabric of this community, and in this time of giving thanks I wanted to call each of them out and recognize them for what they give and what they do.

They undergo a strict screening process, countless hours of training, and treat children who are hurting with grace, compassion, wisdom, and love. They keep foster children near their homes, families, and support systems, provide calm in the storm, and even smile through the tears when a foster youth is reunited with their birth family. 

To all our foster parents, thank you. And if you’re not a foster parent, let’s talk! If you’ve ever wondered about being a foster parent, there’s no better place to do it than with Northern Rivers. 

You can give me a call at 518-223-3828 or visit our website www.northernriversfostercare.org as well as our Facebook page @northernriversfostercare for more information.

Stephanie Klein

Homefinder and Recruiter of

Northern Rivers Family of Services

More Letters to the Editor

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.