NEBO - Barry and Melinda Walter always
knew they wanted to work with children. With two of their own, they liked
taking care of others and make sure their needs were met. In 2001, the
Walters became house parents at Southmountain Children and Family Services,
located in the Lake James area. "Our goal was to get experience in child care,
then move to foster care," Barry said. The couple lived in a modest brick home
with five additional children, who had been removed from their homes by the
Burke County Department of Social Services. They worked in eight-day shifts,
teaching students to be responsible citizens, respect their elders and look
after themselves. "We helped stabilize the children," Melinda said. "We helped
them get into a routine and gave them a sense of security."
Meanwhile, the
campus' executive director, Chris Jernigan, was seeking permission at the
state level to change Southmountain's license from group homes to therapeutic
foster homes. "We asked the head of licensure about it then, but they told us
we could not have foster homes on agency-owned property," Jernigan said. But,
he never gave up and later convinced "the right people" that his suggestion
was a good one.
"National research
shows foster parents often quit because of lack of support from the community
in which they live," Jernigan said. "Sometimes, next-door neighbors don't
understand what foster kids are going through, especially when it comes to
behavior problems. They're not trained to understand." But in a foster
community, everyone is the same.
"It's sort of like if you own a hot-rod
car," Jernigan said. "If you own a hot-rod and you are working on it in your
neighborhood, some of the neighbors might get upset about the loud noise of
the engine. "And when you need assistance or advice, you probably won't find
it anywhere on the block. However, if you live in a neighborhood where
everyone owns a hot-rod, it makes things a whole lot easier. That's the idea."
On Feb. 1, the state
granted Jernigan's request, and Southmountain Children and Family Services
became the first foster community in North Carolina. "This is one of the
most significant changes in our 101-year history," said Bill Brinkley,
chairman of the board of trustees. The beauty of this innovative foster
community is that it combines the best of both types of care by providing
family foster care in a neighborhood filled with foster parents and support
staff," he said.
Now instead of employees going off duty
after a certain number of days, foster parents will be self-sufficient.
They'll rent homes from Southmountain, pay their own bills and use their own
transportation. "The change to foster homes makes each home a true family
setting," Jernigan said.
As for the Walters,
they couldn't be happier about the changes that have been made. "These
kids belong to us now," Barry said, "which is what our long-term goal was. It
just happened sooner than we thought."
For more information about the foster
community or Southmountain programs or to make a financial contribution,
contact Chris Jernigan at 584-1105.
