STRONGSVILLE — Southpark Mall and the Cuyahoga County's Division of Children and Family Services hosted an event on Saturday to bring awareness to help find forever homes for foster children.
Founder of "Be a Hero 4 Kids" Amanda Ennis hosted the event.
Nationwide, there are 450,000 children in the foster care system, and thousands are in Northeast Ohio.
In Cuyahoga County, Ennis said there are about 2,500 kids in foster care.
“Eight hundred of them are being sent out of county to foster homes because there aren’t enough foster homes in the local area," Ennis said.
It's a problem Marcus and Monse Yarbrough do their best to battle, having fostered five children in Cleveland Heights.
“If you have the love to give, everything just falls into place. Everything completely falls into place, and no kid comes to your house that is not meant to be," Monse Yarbrough said.
The couple said they only signed up for one, until a second phone call came. Then another call, giving them the option of siblings.
Yarbrough and her husband said it wasn't an easy process, which could be why it's so hard to get these children in homes.
She explained the six month process, involving the 60 hours of training, learning how to handle behavioral issues from troubled pasts.
They also have to get physicals and even have their homes inspected by the fire department.
“When they come here, they know there’s going to be love, food, clothing, shelter, encouragement to pursue their dreams," Marcus Yarbrough said.
The couple said the process is the most rewarding experience.
