I have read with interest the multiple Journal-World articles about Penny, the runaway foster dog, and the numerous reader comments regarding the stories. While I am happy there are folks out there willing to take in stray animals, I can’t help but wish that similar news coverage and public concern could be shown for the many foster children in our state who desperately need good foster families.

In my opinion, many of the problems in our culture that generate so much political discussion and debate could be helped tremendously by a willingness among more members of our society to become foster parents. Without the support of strong foster families, so many foster children in this state are destined to repeat the mistakes made by their biological parents.

Want to help reduce the amount of domestic and sexual violence? Foster a child who has been a victim and help them to learn that members of a family can respect each other and work out differences peacefully.

Want to do something about the increasing number of single mothers and absentee fathers? Foster a child and show them that a father can, and should, stay with the mother of his children and be involved in every aspect of his children’s lives.

Want to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions, foster a teenager and explain to them the consequences of premarital sex and the need to respect their bodies.

Want to help our schools operate more efficiently? Foster a child and fully integrate them into your family, so that our schools can spend more time providing them an academic education and less time trying to teach them life skills.

Want to reduce the overcrowding and rising costs of our prison system? Foster a child and show them how to live as law-abiding citizens so they don’t follow in the footsteps of their biological parents, who in many cases are, or have been, incarcerated.

Want to lower the number of people on welfare in our state? Foster a child and demonstrate both the value of hard work and the need to be responsible with the money you earn.

Fostering is not easy and will often put you in challenging situations, but the need is significant and the rewards can be life-changing. Please consider contacting your local foster agency and starting the process of becoming a foster family. Help these children see that it is possible to break free from the cycle in which they are currently living. In the words of Frederick Douglass, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”