There’s No Place Like Home

March 19, 2025
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By Angela Kwasny, Foster Care Recruitment Specialist

Throughout life, we encounter times when we must step outside of our comfort zone and be away from home. Whether we’re off at college, on vacation, or spending time with family and friends, the thrill of new experiences often fills us with excitement. However, it’s common to reach a moment when we start to feel homesick and think, “There’s no place like home.” Even though we can’t click our heels like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz to instantly return to our cozy beds, we still have the comfort of knowing that we’ll be back home soon.

Now, imagine what it’s like to be a child in foster care. They often long to be back home, in a familiar environment, but—through no fault of their own—no matter how hard they “click their heels,” returning home is not an option.

When children enter foster care, they have lost so much and face overwhelming uncertainty. Standing at the doorstep of a family they have never met, they are expected to trust that these strangers will provide the safety and stability they did not have before.

In 2023, Missouri saw 12,790 children enter foster care, with 1,500 needing permanent homes. Meanwhile, the last recorded number of licensed foster homes in the state was 4,567 in 2022—a number that has been steadily declining. As the number of children requiring temporary care continues to rise, the demand for safe and nurturing homes remains critical until long-term solutions can be established.

The decision to become a foster parent is not an easy one, but it is undoubtedly one of the most impactful roles you can take on. Research shows that it takes just one caring adult to help a child become a success story.

Becoming a licensed foster parent is just one way to make a difference. There are many other opportunities to positively impact the lives of children in foster care. If you would like more information on how you can help, please email Angie Kwasny, Foster Care Recruitment Specialist, at angela.kwasny@familyforwardmo.org.