Foster care walk is Saturday

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County Children Services Foster Parent Association will host a 2K/5K walk for foster-care awareness beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The event begins at Mahoning County Children Services building, 222 W. Federal St. Registration is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Children in foster care participate for free.

Special family rates will also be provided. All proceeds benefit children in the foster-care system.

According to the 2009 Mahoning County Job and Family Services profile, more than 100 children were in foster homes in the county and more than 8,000 children in foster care in Ohio.

A critical need remains for additional foster homes to accommodate the large numbers of children in foster care, said Radhika Cruz, children services community educator.

Children are in foster care because their own families are unable to provide for their well-being, she said.

The fundraising walks seek to raise awareness of the multiple needs children in foster care struggle with and to create support for these children and their foster families.