An Interview with Pam Talley, Senior Vice President of Foster Care and Prevention Services
At Bloom, our mission is to strengthen children and families, which often begins by opening our doors to children who need a safe, nurturing place to call home. But what goes on behind the scenes when a child enters foster care? We had the opportunity to talk with Pam Talley, Bloom’s Senior Vice President of Foster Care and Prevention Services, to learn more about how each placement is handled with care and compassion.
How do you decide which home a foster child goes to?
When a foster parent is first licensed with Bloom, they meet with our Licensing Specialist to discuss their placement preferences. They can share details such as the gender, race, religion, culture, age range, and behavioral or medical needs they feel best equipped to support.
Bloom then matches those preferences with the information received from the Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) about a child in need of placement. If it seems like a good fit, we reach out to the foster parent to present the child’s case. Ultimately, the foster parent decides if they also feel the child would be a good match for their home.
Do children have to start at a new school?
We do our best to keep children in their community and enrolled in the same school. However, children are ultimately enrolled in the school district where the foster family resides. Bloom’s Family Consultant partners with DFCS to assist in the enrollment process and ensure a smooth transition.
Can foster children participate in after-school activities?
Absolutely! Foster parents have permission to enroll children in after-school programs, sports, or extracurricular activities. The cost is covered through the daily per diem foster parents receive from DFCS, which Bloom distributes each month. These activities are often vital to helping children regain a sense of normalcy and belonging.
How often does Bloom visit foster families?
During the first 30 days of a new placement, Bloom’s Family Consultant visits the foster home every week to provide hands-on support. After that, we visit once a month, plus an additional visit specifically with the foster child—either at school, daycare, or in the home.
For children with specialized or medical needs, Bloom provides weekly visits to ensure families have the extra support they need.
How long do children typically stay in foster care?
Right now, our average length of stay is around seven months. But it really depends on each child’s case. Some children may be with our foster parents for only a few weeks, while others remain with them for several years.
Are most children adopted after foster care?
Actually, most of the children we serve are reunified with their biological families, which is the ultimate goal of foster care. Foster care is designed to be a temporary support system while the family works to overcome the challenges that led to the child’s placement. We’re here to bridge that gap and help both the child and their family.
To learn more about becoming a Bloom foster parent, or how to support the foster families we serve, visit https://bloomfosters.org/our-programs/foster-parenting/ or email foster@bloomfosters.org.
