DHS Increasing Efforts To Help Teens Find Longterm Homes
By Justin Udo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Department of Human Services in Philadelphia is boosting its efforts to help get teenagers out of group homes and institutions, and into long term foster care.
Starting in July, DHS increased the monthly stipend for families who take in foster kids over the age of 13 to $300 a month. They also cut their contracts with homeless shelters outside the city.
Gloria Hochman is the director of communications for the National adoption center, and she says teens are often overlooked when it comes to fostering and adopting:
"Teenagers need homes every bit as much as younger children. There is no time when you don't need a family in your life."
Hochman says the city is headed in the right direction to help combat this problem:
"I think the first thing is they're letting people know that there are children of this age that are waiting to be fostered or adopted."
For more information on how you can foster or adopt a child visit the DHS website or visit the CBSPhilly Wednesday's Child section.
