Upbring is the largest provider of foster care and adoption services in Texas, with fourteen offices across the state. Their Lubbock location has been expanded and recently relocated to University avenue. Committed to helping people become foster parents and assisting foster families, the facility is hoping that people realize the need for foster homes.
Jose Yerena is the area director for the northern region offices, and said that there is a shortage across the South Plains area, and that right now there are 1,596 children in foster care, and nearly 400 are are placed out of the Lubbock area due to lack of homes.The facility said this can cause major stress on the children, forcing them to switch schools.
“Last month there were seven children that stayed the night at the CPS office because there were no homes for them to go to,” said Yerena. “This could be a day or a couple of days, and ultimately they can be placed anywhere in the state.”
The new Lubbock facility has more space than the previous office, which will allow for more room to administer foster training classes, and group activities. Yerena said he hopes that people in the community realize that they are a resource to them, and they are there to help build families. The facility even offers a twenty four hour service that allows families to contact them if there is ever a problem.
“We want to serve as many children and families as we possibly can,” said Yerena. “We want to have the staff available for them at all times and support for the families.”
Due to the wide range of exposure to abuse and neglect that these children can face, the facility contracts with local therapists and offers services to children within 30 days of them joining the foster system. Yerena said that parents can also speak to the therapist if they notice any signs of trauma or abnormal behavior.
“Parents do get talk with the therapists about any issues that may have risen in the past week so they can kind of give an update of how the children are progressing or regressing and create a behavior plan.” said Yerena.
