individuals and families remains high.

Last year, a general appeal was made for caretakers of adolescent children.

Recently a second request was made for the specific case of a pregnant teenage girl.

Unfortunately, interest in the Department of Child and Family Services is still insufficient to respond to the number of children in need of care.

In fact, the department continues to operate on a "crisis to crisis'' situation, the department's foster care support team told The Royal Gazette .

"We're really very pleased with the parents we have,'' said social worker Carolyn Webb "But we need more people, we never have enough homes.'' At present, around 90 foster parents provide temporary homes for about 135 children.

The length of stay can vary from an emergency overnight placement to several years.

"Ideally, the stay should be as short a time as possible while the parents get in a position to take their children back,'' said social worker Warren Simmons.

"But it often takes a very long time.'' In the past, most interested applicants were two-parent families, but now the trend is moving toward single applicants.

"Sometimes single people have more time and energy to give the children,'' said Mrs. Webbe.

"Each applicant is looked at on their own merit,'' added social worker Lisa Cann.

Although the need for foster parents remains critical, the support team was careful to point out the demands upon potential foster parents during an Orientation programme.

Homes for "behaviourally, developmentally or emotionally challenged children'' are especially needed.

Ms Cann stressed that although a commitment "beyond the call of a normal parent'' was required, interested individuals did not need special qualifications or abilities.

"You don't have to be skilled, but you do have to have a vested interest and work with the support team,'' she explained.

Ongoing assistance from the Department and Family Services, the Child Development Centre, and the Foster Parents Association is available for all foster parents.

Interested persons should call 236-0224.