(LUBBOCK, Texas) — There are 144 foster care children in Region 2 who are forced to stay in distant homes due to a lack of local foster homes in the Lubbock area.
"That means they get fewer family visitations, are often separated from siblings and have to move away from friends, communities and the schools they are used to," said Kathy McGee, director of Buckner's community based services in Lubbock. "As if getting removed from their homes isn't traumatic enough."
To help stop this problem, Buckner will celebrate a ribbon cutting and open house for its new Foster Care Center at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 located at ADDRESS.
"This is more than an open house," McGee said. "It's a new beginning. It's so important to get these children into local foster homes."
The Foster Care Center will allow Buckner to hire a regional recruiter to go into churches and talk to the community. It will also serve as a meeting place for a play therapist to work with children dealing with issues of hurt, abuse or neglect.
Buckner Children and Family Services in Lubbock has worked for more than 50 years to serve at-risk children through Buckner Children's Home, foster care, adoption and community programs.
Buckner is a diverse global ministry to orphans and at-risk children and families. Established in 1879, Buckner has answered children's needs throughout history.
Today, Buckner's services include a global humanitarian aid program, volunteer missions opportunities, community enrichment programs, an international network of residential, foster care and transitional housing services, adoption, support programs for children living in orphanages in other countries, five retirement communities and a Christian retreat and youth camping ministry.
