LeFlore and Latimer County DHS offices host foster parent appreciation night

LeFlore and Latimer County Department of Human Services (DHS) recently hosted a foster parent appreciation night. Foster families play a very important role in children and families' lives. DHS and the local community wanted to show foster families how valued they are. It is important that foster families be supported while caring for Oklahoma's vulnerable children.

There were games for the children to play including life-size Jenga, a photo booth, a wheel of fortune, caricature artist, fire truck, police car, DARE car, face painting, arts and crafts, bean bag toss, boardwalk decorations and cutouts for pictures.

One foster parent was overcome with emotion and thanked everyone for the appreciation night. 

The LeFlore County Advocacy Center provided backpacks along with other school supplies for foster children. Community partners provided door prizes for every foster parent. The prizes included dinners, lunches, haircuts/stylings, gift certificates, and oil changes. The Evolution Foundation provided gift cards for foster parents who live further out of Poteau so they could attend and they funded the caricature artist. 

Other community partners who donated or participated include LeFlore County Youth Services, Rise Counseling, Central National Bank, Arvest Bank, Samaritan's Kitchen, Sequel Care, Creoks, Choctaw Nation, Cavanal Counseling, LeFlore County Child Advocacy Center, Women's Crisis Center, National Resource Center for Youth Services, Evolution Foundation, Poteau Police Department, Poteau Fire Department, Okie Artist, Poteau Public Schools art department, and Counseling Services of LeFlore County.

DHS would like to thank the local community partners for coming together to provide this night out for foster parents and children.

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