Boys foster home coming to Flomaton?

The foster care crisis in Escambia County (Ala.) and many counties across the state has prompted former foster parent and child advocate Margaret Silbernagel to pursue a foster home in Flomaton for children who are removed from their homes that offers a safe, hopeful place until each child can be returned to their home or adopted through the foster care system.

This haven for children in transition will be called Philadelphia Place, and is located on Highway 31 in the building that was formerly occupied by the CharCo Company.

Silbernagel said she has been working on establishing a non-profit and procuring a building since September, 2017.

"We've been working with United Bank in Atmore," said Silbernagel. "They own the property. We have been talking to them since January, trying to figure out a way we could obtain the property. They have been so gracious to us. They have bent over backwards to help us."

The building Silbernagel is eyeing is about 12 years old and offers a large kitchen with a sizable center island, perfect for what the facility needs to cook for and feed 10 children.

"We will have to have a new refrigerator," said Silbernagel. "The kitchen is more than adequate, and there is a large dining room for large sit down meals. It's really big."

The building has adequate bedrooms to comfortably house 10 children, a lounge room offering a spot to rest and a common room where the kids can watch television and play. There is even a homework station, offering the occupants a quiet place to work on homework.

Although the process is a long one, Silbernagel said she believes in the reality of a Philadelphia Place and focuses on moving forward. The paperwork necessary to establish a 501 C3 non-profit was completed and mailed in March, so she expects to hear something in August.

"It is a process," she said. "Normally the non-profit has to form a board and once you get the 501 C3 status, you can apply for grants and offer tax-deducible donations. That status is in the pipeline. It's coming. I am filling out the paperwork required to get licensed by the state of Alabama to run a group home."

Silbernagel said she is overwhelmed by the requirements for state licensing, but says that by doing it, she will have a lot of the information she needs so that when she applies for the grants, she will have the research done.

"This is a band aid, not a solution," said Silbernagel. "The state of Alabama has more than 6,100 kids in child protective services. Georgia has more than 16,000. We are facing an unbelievable crisis. When these kids turn 18, they have no where to go. I can't do anything about the 6,000 we have, but we are going to have to do what we can where we are. It's overwhelming."

Silbernagel said the facility is limited to males or females and that the state won't allow even brothers and sisters to be housed in the same facility.

"We chose boys, because more people are willing to take the girls," said Silbernagel. "We chose boys age 10 to their 17th birthday."

The seriousness of the crisis has made it now that it's not possible to take care of the Escambia County children, but that her purpose is all about restoring families, if and when possible.

She has begun an awareness campaign, going into the churches, trying to make people aware of how severe this crisis is. She says every month, it is getting worse.

"I will never have an empty bed," said Silbernagel. "I'm only allowed in one unit to have 10 children., by the state of Alabama. I want to build another building, then I can have 10 more. It's a tidal wave coming and all you can do is save 10 at a time. I can scoop them up, make sure they get the food and basic necessities they need, nurture them and give them an education. None of this is their fault, they were thrown into this as children and they are swimming to keep their heads above water."

There are ways that concerned citizens can help with this desperate situation.

Silbernagel suggests to check into being foster parents and open your doors and homes to these children.

"We have some that have some problems or issues, but all they need is love, guidance and direction and they'll be just like any other kid," said Silbernagel. "Even though I hear people say they shy away from fostering because they don't want to get attached, I feel that we are the adults, can we not suffer a little heartbreak to get the best for a child?"

Silbernagel said people can become respite, or short-term fill-in parents, giving the foster parents a break. She is hoping to get area churches to sponsor foster night out where they could have the kids in their church fellowship hall, providing games or movies for the kids, to give the parents a date night.

"Someone who wants to help could be a mentor," said Silbernagel. "We will need drivers to help transport, or they can help monetarily, if they wish by adopting a child financially through Philadelphia Place, which goes toward getting them what they need and helps feed them too. I would love for our churches and organizations to decorate a bedroom to make it a home for the boys. Each church could do it for the boys, or help clean up the grounds and provide outdoor activities for our boys."

If you cannot participate in any of the those ways, Silbernagel said that monetary donations will be welcome and will help Philadelphia Place succeed.

Required for a non-profit, the board that will oversee Philadelphia Place is made of seven board members. Silbernagel has five signed on and is seeking two more members.

The current board members are Silbernagel, Executive Director Autumn Brown (who will be manager of Philadelphia Place), Jennifer Sanders, Kaurean Reynolds, Beth Tew, Wanda Vanlandingham, Christie White Strength and Pastor Andre Hunter of Mt. Zion Apostolic Church in Evergreen (who will serve as chaplain). Two more seats are open and Silbernagel is hoping to fill them with Poarch Band of Creek Indians tribe members.

"I want a representation of our whole population in this county," she said. "I would love tribe members."

Jena White Turner will be the assistant director and social worker for the facility.

Silbernagel said she hoping to work with Stephanie Myrick and the Child Advocacy Center for any counseling when needed and Vicki Fussell of Hope Place in Brewton, to teach the older boys, about 16 or 17, independent living skills so they can be prepared to enter the workforce, interview for employment, balance a checkbook, etc.

"We encourage the boys to participate in school activities," said Silbernagel. "We all have to do this, we can't leave it on one person. We help until, hopefully, the parents can get back on their feet and the child can go back to a healthy environment. There's no feeling like helping a child succeed. I want our community to think of these as our kids."

Anyone who would like to help or is interested in becoming a foster parent, please contact Alabama Department of Human Resources Director Lynn Barnes at 251-809-2000.