[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15857]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        HONORING FOSTER PARENTS

 Mrs. CARNAHAN. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to honor and recognize a very special group of people. I 
commend Missouri's foster parents for their dedication to helping the 
lives of children. Every day, caring people open up their homes for 
children who are in need of help. Currently, Missouri is home to 
approximately 4,416 foster families.
  Being a foster parent takes tremendous skill and dedication. Foster 
parents have to go through a training and assessment program in order 
to have a better understanding of the challenges that they will face 
raising foster children. Foster parents work as a team with experts 
from state agencies to provide care that is in the best interest of the 
child.
  Of special note are two extraordinary Missourians. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac 
Garner of Lexington, MO, have unselfishly been foster parents to 236 
kids. Their dedication throughout the years stems from a life-long 
commitment to serving their community and children who are in need of a 
loving home.
  I commend the Garners and all of the foster parents in Missouri for 
their efforts on behalf of Missouri's children. Thank you for making me 
proud to be a Missourian.

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