At least one child in the classroom will need a safe home tonight.

Such an urgent call for help has local officials attempting to bring foster parenting back into the Auburn community. A local network is being established to bridge agencies to volunteers and provide immediate help for children caught in the throes of family problems.

“We want the community more involved with children, specially those within their own community,” said Kathy Haugland, a foster parent liason/recruiter for Fostering Together. “The main part is getting the message to the community and educating people about the benefits of foster care.”

Fostering Together, a nonprofit organization committed to the recruitment and support for foster parents, is teaming up with the Department of Social and Health Services in Kent and the Auburn School District to provide short-term placement for local children removed from their homes.

The program – “Fostering with School” – is in its infancy with the mission to eventually strengthen the volunteer corps within the area.

“We’re looking for families who care, who have an extra bed in the house to accommodate a school-age child who needs stability,” Haugland said.

Such a task is daunting for officials.

Current statistics show 85 percent of children removed from their homes in Auburn end up being placed outside of the community. As of last June, 105 students were removed from the Auburn School District. Statistically speaking, that means only 16 of those children were able to remain in the community.

According to Fostering Together officials, an estimated 50-75 percent of school-aged children who enter foster care must leave their school districts because temporary homes are unavailable near their current homes. Academic experts estimate that children lose up to four-six months of progress every time their education is interrupted by a change of schools.

The Fostering with School program wants to make an impact by placing those children with foster families who live in the same school district. Children can remain in their daycare or continue in their community activities. They also can remain in contact with their brothers and sisters at school or in the community.

Foster families can help by giving their time. They are only asked to take children from the community for a day, a week, a month, or whatever they can give while the adults (parents, social workers, counselors) determine what they need to do to get the family back on track.

Schools can help the program by supporting the children so they don’t lose contact with the people who are familiar and important to them.

Local school districts are being asked to join the effort.

Foster families are licensed. The process involves an application, background check, home inspection and some training that will be offered in a location near their home.

“It’s a good program. We just need families to help support it,” said Tatiana Hahn, a foster care licensor for DSHS. “It’s a good program because it keeps kids safe and stable and in a good environment. We just need some families to step up to the plate and provide some good homes, provide a safe, loving place for these children.”

To learn more about the program, please visit fosteringtogether.org or call 1-866-958-5437.