“A lot of people don’t experience that sort of responsiveness,” says Lankford. “There is a willingness to help 24 hours a day. There is even a rotating pager system to make sure someone is available after hours.”

Currently Neighbor to Neighbor has 200 children and 55 foster caregivers. There is a continuous need for foster care providers who are willing to take on more than one child. “It’s important that prospective foster parents not only have a heart, but an understanding of the challenges that they will face,” says Lankford.

Visit www.hullhouse.org/n2n to learn more about Neighbor to Neighbor.

Hear from a Foster Parent

Five years ago, when Diantha Garcia, 37, made a career change that allowed her to stay home with her son Juan, she and her husband Elmer decided it was time to realize a wish that she had always had: To become a foster parent.