WARREN — Representatives from Trumbull County Children Services spoke at the Warren City Council meeting Wednesday, asking for help to find more foster parents in the area.

Anne Marie Mendenhall and Janessa Kiefer shared details about the need to keep local children in their own community.

“We’re here to provide some community education and to recruit foster parents,” Mendenhall told council. She said that most of the children in foster care come from Warren’s 44483, 44484 and 44485 zip codes. However, there are not enough foster homes in the city, so many kids are sent to places like Cortland, Dayton, Columbus or Toledo.

Mendenhall and Kiefer oversee about 150 children in foster care each year. They work hard to keep kids safe and, when possible, reunite them with their families. But with only 40 foster homes in Trumbull County, finding local homes is a big challenge.

“When we have to place kids in foster care, we want them to stay close to home,” Kiefer said. “It’s better for them to stay in their community, near their schools and friends.”

Kiefer said that Children Services tries to avoid removing kids from their families. They first look for safe relatives or family friends, called “kin,” to care for the children. If that’s not possible, foster homes are needed. The agency also provides a six-month training process for new foster parents and ongoing support after they are licensed.

The number of kids in foster care changes throughout the year. Sometimes, children are adopted or families close their foster licenses to focus on their own households. Mendenhall said this makes it even harder to find enough homes for kids in need.

Mendenhall asked council members to spread the word in their wards and connect her with people who might be interested in fostering.

“We’re ready to talk to anyone who wants to learn more,” she said.

After the meeting, Mendenhall and Kiefer shared business cards with council members and expressed hope that more Warren residents would step up to help. Their goal is to keep kids close to home and give them a chance to return to their families when it’s safe.

For more information on becoming a foster parent, contact Trumbull County Children Services at 330-372-2010.