MORE MINORITY FOSTER PARENTS ARE NEEDED

What brave and loving souls the area's foster parents are.

They're willing to open their homes and hearts to children who are battered and bruised -- either figuratively or emotionally -- from the events in their own homes.

But there aren't enough of at least one kind of foster parent in this area. The state is asking more minorities to get involved in the program.

While the federal government prohibits social workers from using race as a factor in placing a child in a foster home, let's be realistic. There are differences in the races, and a child who is traumatized by being ripped away from Mom and Dad doesn't need another strange event in his or her life.

For more information on becoming a foster parent, call 290-5357.