Support for foster care topic on next Newsmakers

(From KGCS)

More than twelve thousand children are in the Missouri foster care system. Strains on staffing have led to an effort to reform the system. But a local non-profit organization is working to keep kids out of foster care while supporting biological families as well. The group is Foster Adopt Connect and the impact of its efforts is the focus of the next Newsmakers program.

Tom Furrh, Foster Adopt Connect Joplin Branch Director, discusses the numbers of families who have been helped since the organization established an office in Joplin two years ago. Furrh also shares special events that will serve as fundraisers for the charity. 

We also hear from a young woman getting support from the Kinship Program after taking guardianship of her four nephews and nieces. The Fostering Prevention Parenting Program is highlighted in a video piece with a mother of three explaining how regular visits and training are helping her be a better parent.

Newsmakers is airing nightly at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. the week of December 3 on KGCS-TV and will air at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, December 9 on KOAM-TV. It is also posted on the station’s YouTube channel: KGCS - Missouri Southern State University.

KGCS programming can be seen on channel 21 and is also available on regional cable television systems such as Sparklight, Mediacom and Suddenlink Communications. The station operates as a service of the Department of Communications at Missouri Southern State University.