Akron Life December 2022

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Be the Reason for Brighter Futures

There are more than 800 children in the custody of Summit County Children Services. These children need safe, loving, caring families due to concerns of child abuse, neglect or dependency. Nearly 40 percent of these children are placed with kinship families; however, the remaining children need foster homes, and more importantly, families.

Summit County Children Services currently has about 170 foster homes, and that is not enough to meet the need. BECOME A FOSTER & TO & ADOPT PARENT Ms. Je ! erson has been a licensed foster-to-adopt parent for Summit County Children Services for over 11 years. Becoming a foster-to adopt parent has been on her heart since she was a young girl watching the “Punky Brewster” TV show. The show featured a young girl who did not have a family and was Meet the Je ! erson Family

being raised by a foster parent. From that time, Je ! erson knew in her heart that she wanted to become a foster parent one day and make a di ! erence in the life of a child. Upon becoming a foster to-adopt parent, Je ! erson has fostered nine children and maintain primary family connections for the children who enter her home. She recognizes the importance of family bonds and has been successful in building relationships that encourage reunification or that provide ongoing connections for and adopted three girls. Je ! erson strives to make

children after permanency has been achieved. She has made a di ! erence in the lives of many children and has welcomed many new extended family members. “I really love to work with Ms. Je ! erson and her family,” says Christina Horner, foster home coordinator for Summit County Children Services. “Ms. Je ! erson continues to be committed to provide love and care for the children in her home and nurtures extended family relationships.”

Summit County Children Services %'" S. Arlington St., Akron %" -hour foster care and adoption inquiry line: (($&()*&#**$ summitkids.org

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