JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – There is still a strong need for foster families according to the Buffalo Bridges Human Service Zone.

Stephanie Morris is the Foster Care & In-home Supervisor for the zone.

Morris says youth are spread out in the area as they attempt to find permanent housing and families for them. She says they work with 20 families through “in-home case management.”

A recent shift for Buffalo Bridges and other service zones has been the implementation of a new program called Safety Framework Practice Model. She says this is a statewide that all caseworkers are trained in and gives them more guidelines to keep children out of foster care.

Morris says they continue to seek foster families and are using the state-list to help get foster youth connected with a family. Stutsman & Barnes counties have approximately 25 registered foster families, which is less than the amount of youth in need of care.