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Amerigroup Georgia is partnering with the Foster Care Institute to host an event to encourage foster care parents on Saturday in LaGrange.

Dr. John DeGarmo, of the Foster Care Institute, said they are working with Amerigroup to host events all across the state to help save current foster parents who are suffering from burnout, stress, and compassion fatigue, and to recruit new foster parents.

“We’re hosting an event here on Saturday in LaGrange for Troup County foster parents to recruit more and retain the one we have,” DeGarmo said.

The event is free to the public and will have door prizes and gifts along with a free lunch.

“We’re going to do a lot of training at the core services and hopefully recruit more foster parents,” DeGarmo said.

DeGarmo said many current foster care parents are experiencing burnout.

“We’re at a mental health crisis right now across the country. Since [COVID] lockdown, there’s been a 70% increase in teenage suicide attempts. Teenage and childhood depression is at an all-time high,” DeGarno said.

“With the opioid epidemic that’s strangling our nation, where do the kids go? Their parents are arrested or incarcerated or hospitalized or died. We’ve got more children coming over the border illegally trafficking victims. All these are kids flooding into the foster care system,” DeGarmo said.

“Foster care can be exhausting. Many foster parents simply don’t have the support services they need, because today’s caseworkers are overworked, overwhelmed, under-resourced, under-supported or understaffed. They can’t provide the support services that foster parents need, so many foster parents quit,” DeGarmo said.

DeGarmo said the average foster parent lasts about 18 months before they can’t handle it anymore. But for some, they love it has become a way of life.

“I’ll tell you the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I’ve had as many as 11 kids in my house at the same time here in Georgia, because I’m a foster parent, and every child makes me a better person in some way,” DeGarmo said.

The foster care event will be held Saturday, Sep. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3683 Whitesville Road in LaGrange.

For more information contact Dr. DeGarmo at (706) 318-9225.