Pena To Lead South Central Foster Care Recruitment Efforts

DURANT, OK --  Jim Pena has been named the new foster care recruiter for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) in south central Oklahoma. Pena will be based out of the OKDHS Bryan County Human Services Center in Durant, Okla., which covers Atoka, Bryan, Johnston and Marshall counties.
Pena, a Durant native of 26 years said, “I am looking for to this new challenge. Bryan County and the surrounding areas have many wonderful families caring for custody children; however, the need for more great resource families is urgent and ongoing.”

The Department’s leadership found there are many ways for families in communities across the state to engage in helping children who come into state custody as a result of abuse or neglect. The concept of “resource families” is one that allows the Department to identify families as a resource. These families work with Department staffers like Pena to determine whether or not they can be foster parents, adoptive parents or provide other resource-related support to families caring for children who live in their communities.

“Opening our hearts and homes to children in need is one of the greatest offerings of love we can show to these children, and I believe there are many ways that families in this area can help,” Pena said.

Pena and his family were first introduced to foster care in 2003 when their pastor's family became foster parents. During the last few years, he has come to understand what a difference foster families can make in the lives of the children they bring into their homes.

Transitioning into a new home is difficult for both the child and the foster family. The difficulties are sometimes related to urgent physical and emotional needs. Often times, a child will arrive with only the clothes on their back and strong memories of how they were brought into custody. Most children are too young to understand what is happening to them, and that’s when having solid caring adults to help them makes a real difference.

One important goal of foster care is to bring children and their parents back together safely. Helping bridge the gap between children in state custody and their families is very important, and Pena believes there are ways that families can help make this reunification happen.

A calling on his life has lead Pena to be a Worship Leader, he also serves as Worship Pastor at Western Meadows Baptist Church in Durant.  Pena says, “The first thing I’d like to say to foster families is thanks; thanks so very much for the love and life you give every day.”

Pena and his wife, Rebecca, have a daughter, Janette, and they are expecting a new baby soon.

The list of things you can do for a child is very long. If you have questions or would like to meet the needs of a child in state custody, call Pena at 580-931-2555 or 800-225-0062.  Pena can be reached by e-mail at Jim.Pena@OKDHS.org.

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