ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) — People in Elizabeth City are getting a preview of a new movie that calls for more foster parents across the United States.
Prior to the pandemic, there were more than 7,000 foster families in North Carolina. Today, they’re hovering around 5,000.
That’s why an advocacy group is hoping to use the movie to show the need, specifically in Eastern North Carolina.
The movie is based on a true story about a couple in Texas that inspires their rural church to embrace kids in the foster system that no one else would take. And local foster parents say they’re hoping maybe this movie could inspire something like that to happen here.
“I don’t think people know or understand just how many kids there are actually in our area that are in need of help,” said foster parent and regional leader for Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina, Holly Harmon. “There are children being placed every day unfortunately due to the opioid crisis that we have going on right now.”
Harmon says it’s very difficult for foster families to get resources in Eastern North Carolina, especially in Elizabeth City. She says the first thirty days are especially tough when getting to appointments, and just adjusting to new surroundings in general.
“We are hoping this movie will help provide some much needed support in our area,” Harmon said.
She told us one local church volunteers to sponsor a meal for a family in their first week of getting a foster placement, and it makes a big difference.
“That is a very huge thing especially the first week because everyone is getting acclimated to each other and appointments, so them providing a meal for that family is just epic,” Harmon said.
The movie “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” by Angel Studios follows a true story about a reverend and his wife. They took in foster kids, and through seeing their experience, others have been inspired become foster parents too.
Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina Executive Director Gaile Osbourne says there are about 11,000 kids in foster care, and more than 11,000 churches in North Carolina.
“We’re hoping that this movie resonates with the people in the community to say, ‘hey, our church could do X, Y, Z,’ or ‘our community group could help sponsor a couple of families that are doing this incredibly big lift,'” said Osbourne.
She says even if you can’t say yes to fostering, everyone can do something.
“The idea of jumping in, however, you can begin a cheerleader or encourager or all the way to actually providing housing modifications or providing a mattress for a child and whatever need is there, you wouldn’t believe how many things families need, whether these children come into care,” said Osbourne.
She believes having support would even help keep their numbers up for people wanting to continue being foster parents.
“We want to be able to support them in whatever needs they have, because ultimately, when those needs are met, then our children are having stability within placements,” Osbourne said.
Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina is a caregiver support organization for foster kinship and adoptive families. Osbourne says their role is to come in and do recruitment and retention of caregivers who are supporting children.
If you’d like more information on how to foster or adopt a child in North Carolina, click here.
The movie is playing at RCE Theaters in Elizabeth City this Saturday night. The early showing is private for social services employees and groups from local churches.
It will then be in more theaters in our area starting next Wednesday, June 19, and fully in theaters July 4. For more information on the screenings, click here.