The Elder Family Provides a Respite for Children in Need

Respite foster parents become like an aunt and uncle figure to foster youth. As a respite foster parent, you can have an incredible impact on a foster child without the full-time commitment of having them live in your home. In addition to the impact on the child, respite care allows foster parents to take a breather and recharge.

Greg and Virginia Elder have been respite foster parents with Goshen Valley for over two years. They wanted to share their story in hopes that it will inspire others to volunteer to be respite foster parents.

Greg says that he and Virginia became interested in foster care after attending the Cherokee Homecoming panel discussion in early 2016. At this event, we learned that there were over 100 children from Cherokee County in foster care who were having to be housed outside of Cherokee due to a lack of foster parents within the county, and that siblings were being spilt up in the process.

After some discussion, prayer, and discernment, we determined that our schedules would not permit us to be full-time foster parents, Greg added. Then, the Elders learned about respite foster care.

The Elders also learned that full-time foster parents need a break from time to time, and that there are obstacles to traveling out of state with foster children. Respite foster care was a solution that kept full-time foster parents from burning out. Knowing that there was already a shortage of full-time foster parents in Cherokee County, Virginia and Greg decided that respite foster care was a way they could help. With grown children and two empty bedrooms, the Elders began to feel God calling them to move towards respite care.

Our first placement was a teenage boy, who we kept for around a week. Since we both still work full time, we were grateful that Goshen Homes had an agreement with the YMCA where we could take him during the day. The evenings were filled with several adventures including a Braves game, fishing at a nearby pond, and watching fireworks from a boat on the 4th of July. We enjoyed our time with him and were sad to see him go, as he returned to his full-time foster family. Our time since then has included older boys, and more recently two sisters. Weve kept them twice now, and they have captured our hearts, Greg said.

The Elders have taken in numerous foster youth on respite, and they are amazing at creating memories that the kids will carry for a lifetime. They often end up taking the kids to their first ever Braves game, and the Elders say that they love seeing the kids faces light up when taking in such a great first-time experience. We love that the Elders are creating memories with our kids, and we are in need of more families interested in having this impact on a foster child, stated a representative from Goshen Valley.

When asked what he would tell someone considering respite fostering, Greg said, These children deserve and need a loving environment. Their full-time foster parents need a breather from time to time. As a respite foster care parent, you control your schedule, and the Goshen Team supports you in every way possible. Your commitment is whatever you make it, whenever you can make it.

To sum it up, Greg describes respite care as being well suited for busy, working couples who have a little extra room in their homes, their schedules, and in their hearts for children who need to know that others care.

If you are interested in joining the Elders and other amazing families providing respite care to the Goshen Homes foster parents, there will be an interest meeting at the Canton YMCA on November 15 at 6:00pm. You may also visit GoshenValley.org/homes to learn more.