Brightside Child and Family Advocacy makes Christmas bright for foster children

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – More than 300 children are currently in foster care in Chatham County. While those numbers go up and down, there has been an increase over the past year.

Those numbers are on the rise. Last year in Chatham County, about 90 children entered the foster care system. This year there were 112.

Most cases are due to neglect. But this year they also saw an increase in cases of physical abuse that sent children into the foster care system.

While being away from home is never easy, Christmas time is even harder for the kids.

That’s why community members and businesses have come together to support with gifts the 315 children currently in foster care and nearly 100 others at risk of foster care.

Brightside Child and Family Advocacy has already started handing out the gift to CASA volunteers and case managers to make sure the children feel cared for at Christmas.

“We’re mostly working on making sure we can get the kids home, that’s our main goal, gifts are great, but getting those kids home to whatever that house is. Whether it’s reuniting with their parents, whether it’s adoption or permanent custody with a relative, we want them to find a home, because we all deserve to be home for the holidays,” said Kate, Executive Director of Brightside Child and Family Advocacy. Blair.

Even finding temporary foster homes can be a challenge. But there is one group in particular that is difficult to place. But now a new attempt is being made to give them a safe place. It’s called Tharros Place and they help victims of human trafficking, while also moving into a new building.

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