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14 • The Beacon April 10, 2025
Encourage Foster Care set to expand into Coshocton
By Josie Sellers Beacon Editor
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Encourage Foster Care is expanding to Coshocton and surrounding areas. This faith-based organization will share its story Thursday, May 1 at 6:30 p. m. at NewPointe Community Church, 23801 County Road 621, Coshocton.
The organization contracts with county agencies and works directly with them for referrals to foster homes. They are a private Christian foster and foster-to-adopt agency, and foster parents receive the state-required training through their agency with Encourage staff. The difference is Encourage Foster Care staff members are able to provide additional support to their families, including praying with them and praying for them.
“ We have faith-based, trauma-informed therapy, and that’ s an added layer
BF-288281 of support in there for the kiddos,” said Katie Ficker, Encourage Foster Care foster care recruiter.
Foster families can receive placements from within their own county or from others.
“ Some families may be hesitant to foster within their own community because they might know the birth family or run into them and that could be a challenge for some,” said Heather Huebner, Encourage Foster Care director of operations and recruitment.“ Other people want to help within their own community.”
Ficker will visit area churches and community groups to share her story and help encourage those who might have it on their heart to become licensed foster parents.
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“ My younger two children are adopted,” she said.“ I landed at Encourage because I was looking for resources for our children. It really is a game changer with the support they offer and how they walk through situations and challenges with you. They walk alongside you, pray for you, and show you the tools out there to offer support and help connect you as a family.”
May is National Foster Care Month, and Huebner and Ficker are excited to kick the month off by sharing with others how to get involved with Encourage Foster Care.
There are three steps to getting licensed: inquire, training and complete the home study. You can connect with them in May or contact them through the information below.
Ficker feels one of the greatest things she and her husband can do is pour their love into the lives of children and offer them a loving and safe home.
“ We adopted out of the Guatemala foster system,” she said.“ Adopting out of their foster care system is really hard and challenging, but we get to see these children grow and change and receive hope and redemption.” Fostering isn’ t the only way to help through Encourage. Other options such as respite care will be discussed at the May 1 meeting.
To learn more, visit www. encouragefostercare. org or call 330-462-1118.