After fostering dozens of children in the past 18 years, Mary Haldeman knows the struggles to provide clothing or an extra can of formula on limited resources.
She also knows how frustrating and confusing the state system can be for those who are new to foster care and adoption.
Haldeman hopes a new resource will offer some relief to families facing the same struggles she has over the years.
A location of the private, non-profit agency FosterAdopt Connect opened in December in Poplar Bluff, at 2198 N. Westwood Blvd.
Haldeman serves as program director for the southeast location of the Missouri-based company. This location also includes a family advocate and trainer, Katie McCoy, with plans to expand the staff in the coming months.
FosterAdopt connect believes while not everyone can foster or adopt a child, everyone can do something.
The Poplar Bluff location includes a donation center that accepts good condition clothing, new toys and other items for families.
They also provide training and advocacy services to foster and adoptive homes, as well as parents who are working toward getting their children back or keeping their children in the home.
"We're designed to fill in the gaps, not to duplicate or step on any toes, but to fill in those gaps where other agencies don't have the time or those particular resources," said McCoy.
FosterAdopt Connect is headquartered in Independence and started in 1998, as a support group for foster parents.
It now has more than 170 staff members, with locations in Chillicothe and Springfield in Missouri, as well as Olathe, Kan.
Funding comes from a mixture of state dollars, grants and donations, Haldeman said.
Since December, the Poplar Bluff operation has served an average of 50 children per month through Sammy's Window, a clothing closet.
"To have new socks and underwear, to have diapers when you're running low, those things are some of the most costly to keep up with," said Haldeman. "The very small amount of check that you get every month does take care of the basics, it absolutely does, but anytime you go beyond the basics, like your kid's on WIC and you need baby formula because the kid eats more ...
"If this had been here, it would have made my life so much easier."
Advocacy is also an important part of what they can offer, Haldeman said. McCoy can help families understand different parts of the state system, write letters or navigate educational rights, and in many other ways, the women said.
There was a time when Haldeman says she did not understand the foster care system as well as she does now.
There were times when difficult and unfair things happened, she said.
"If I had someone like Katie, to walk me through some of the challenges, to be my advocate, or to go to court with me or the meetings, I would have felt support that at times I didn't," Haldeman said.
The Poplar Bluff location also offers some of the continuing education trainings that foster parents need to maintain their licensing. Classes are held from 6-8 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month and require registration.
Another service includes an event for foster and adoptive families this weekend, that provides respite care or a chance for the parents to have a break, Haldeman said.
Families pre-registered for the event and volunteers will offer free baby sitting for the afternoon at a local church.
"It's not really easy to get baby sitters, because sometimes these kids come with behaviors that are difficult," said Haldeman.
Respite care events offer those families a short break, to spend time with their spouse, or just to enjoy some peace and quiet, she said.
The southeast location covers 28 counties, including Dunklin, Stoddard, Ripley, Carter, Reynolds, Cape, Scott and St. Francois counties.
Haldeman and McCoy would like to eventually have satellite offices in some of the other counties.
They are also building a resource contact list for these counties, of agencies and organizations that might be able to provide additional help to families.
Volunteers and donations are needed for many of the projects they hope to accomplish.
The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Sammy's Window is open from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Friday and by appointment.
It can be reached at 573-552-4338.