This article is a sponsored post and appears as part of KoreAm’s Community Network section.
In L.A. County, there are some 800 abused and neglected Asian Pacific Islander foster children. Nearly 100 of them are Korean. Yet, there are only a few Asian, licensed foster families in the county, and none are of Korean descent.
Asian children often come from immigrant households with limited exposure to Western culture and may not learn English until they start kindergarten. Being placed in non-Asian foster families that lack knowledge about the children’s food, culture or language can compound their existing anxiety, confusion and trauma.
KFAM launched the Korean Foster Family Initiative campaign (KFFI) in January 2014 with the L.A. County Department of Children & Family Services to bring awareness to this issue and recruit Koreans to become licensed foster parents. Our first class had 17 Koreans participating, and they will be completing their 33-hour PS-MAPP training this month, plus finishing up other requirements like CPR classes, background checks and home site visits. By this fall, we expect to have our first group of licensed Korean foster parents who are providing loving homes for Korean and Asian foster children in L.A. County.
For more information on how you can become a licensed foster parent in L.A. County, please contact 1-844-K-FAMILY, or email Estee Song, project manager at ESong@kfamla.org.
This post was sponsored by KFAM, which is part of KoreAm’s Community Network, a section reserved for local and national nonprofit organizations. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of KoreAm.
* * *
Korean American Family Services (KFAM)
KFAM’s mission is to strengthen and support Korean American families and individuals in the greater Los Angeles area through counseling, education, and social services. Founded in 1983 by a group of Korean immigrant women deeply influenced by the pioneering work of Dr. Tae Young Lee, Korea’s first female attorney and an early advocate of the rights of women and children, KFAM began with its primary focus on assisting victims of family violence. KFAM has grown into the community’s preeminent family resource center, specializing in culturally and linguistically competent mental health, family violence and support services to Korean Americans in Los Angeles.
3727 West 6th St., Suite 320
Los Angeles, CA 90020
t: (213) 389 – 6755
f: (213) 389 – 5172
www.KFAMLA.org
admin@KFAMLA.org
