May Is Foster Care Awareness month and The Williamston Police Department Policing Initiative is teaming with the South Carolina Youth Advocate Program to recognize foster care in Anderson County. A Foster Care Appreciation and Awareness Event will be held on May 31st at the Caroline Community Center in Williamston.
The event is a partnership between the Town of Williamston Community Policing Initiative and South Carolina Youth Advocate Program-Resource Family Program, according to Williamston Police Chief Tony Taylor, who is helping organize it.
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church with Rev. S Andrew Mattison and the Foster Parent Association are also helping with the event.
“Many families in Williamston and other neighboring communities in Anderson have taken children into their home to foster until they can return safely to their birth families,” Taylor said. “These families are valuable assets to the community and deserving of appreciation.”
There are approximately 150 children in foster care in Anderson County. There are 69 licensed resource homes in this same county.
There are eight children in four foster care homes in Belton.
In West Pelzer there are currently six children and seven homes. There are four homes in four Anderson county, and three in Greenville county)
In Williamston there are five children and seven resource foster families.
There are no children in six available homes in Piedmont with three in Anderson county and three in Greenville county)
In Powdersville there are two children. There are eight resource families available, all Greenville county.
In Easley there are five children. The Easley area has three Anderson County homes and eight in Pickens county.
Anyone interested in making a difference in the life of a child is invited to look into becoming a Foster family through the SCYAP-Resource Family Program by calling 864-312-6700 visiting their website at www.scyap.
Anyone in the community interested in helping with donations for the appreciation event is asked to contact Williamston Police Chief Tony Taylor at (864-847-7425).
The event will be held Saturday, May 31 from 4-6 p.m. at Caroline Community Center located at 1 School St. in Williamston.
