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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – PATH ND will host an informational meeting on foster parenting at the Barnes County Museum in Valley City tonight at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Nearly 1,500 children are in foster care in North Dakota and 350 of those need adoptive homes. Respite homes are also needed which allows foster children a place to go occasionally. When there isn’t a foster home available after a child is removed from their home, they are moved to another county and made to transfer schools and day cares.

PATH ND recruitment and licensing coordinator, Bill Grommesh said ideally keeping a child in their classroom or community with their friends is less traumatic as they face many other disruptions in their life. He said this informational session is for anyone interested in learning about foster care or becoming a foster parent.

Grommesh will discuss the steps involved in becoming a licensed foster parent and is looking to meet with any interested party who would like to become a foster parent. PATH licenses adults 21 and older, including single people, individuals or couples identifying as LGBTQ, retired people, unmarried couples and married couples.

PATH ND, is a private nonprofit child and family services agency. Since 1994, PATH has grown from providing treatment-based foster care to providing more in-home and community-based services and supports like parent-to-parent mentoring and transitioning to independent living to children and families in North Dakota.