County proclaims May National Foster Care Month; Alzheimer’s Association brings 'Brain Bus' to Live Oak

The Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners adopted a proclamation declaring May as National Foster Care Month and heard two presentations about local needs and resources: Partnership for Strong Families described local foster-care placement statistics and the county’s need for foster homes, and the Alzheimer’s Association presented the mobile Brain Bus that will visit rural communities to provide dementia education and services.

Partnership for Strong Families’ recruitment specialist, Sebastian, told the board that while county averages usually show about 29 children in foster care at any given time, the current figure is 59 county children in out-of-home care and the county has 12 licensed foster homes. “We need local people to help local kids,” he said, describing the strain on families and the additional transportation burdens when children are placed in other counties.

Commissioners approved the foster-care proclamation on a motion by Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Commissioner Hale; the vote was 5-0. The board urged residents to consider orientation sessions, volunteering, and community support for foster families.

The Alzheimer’s Association’s program manager, Donna Lee, described the organization’s mobile Brain Bus—one of two large units in Florida—and said it is equipped for private consultations, classes and outreach in rural areas. Lee said her program reached more than 6,000 people last year across a multi-county territory and that she wants the Brain Bus scheduled in Suwannee County starting in July. “If we get ahead of it early, early is the key to this,” Lee said, urging commissioners and residents to invite the bus to local events and sites such as libraries, churches and festivals. Lee also gave the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 hotline number for local use.

Commissioners thanked presenters and encouraged residents to contact the agencies for volunteer or program information.