TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Community members gathered to raise awareness for the need of foster parents.

Marryland Community Church hosted a forum called Fostering Hope. The forum is to help support foster parents, and to try to recruit more people to participate. Current foster parents were invited to discuss their time as foster parents and where to get started.

The forum also gave support options for siblings of foster children, and teach them the understanding of it.

Outreach director Dawn Arnold said the need for foster parents is always needed.

“We have kids that are entering foster care pretty quickly and we don’t have as many foster parents able to take those kids. And so we are seeing kids being sent 3 or 4 hours away. So, not only are they getting removed from the home that they lived in, but they’re also getting a new school and all of the things new to them so that does add an extra layer of trauma,” Arnold said.

for those that weren’t able to attend tonight, can get more information on their website.