At Issue with Mark Welp
Why Central Illinois Needs More Foster Families
Clip: Season 4 Episode 2 | 42sVideo has Closed Captions
A shortage of foster families is leaving Central Illinois children without homes.
The need for foster families is especially significant in Central Illinois. Cathy Newbury of Let It Be Us explains how Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties have high numbers of youth in care and why a shortage of available foster homes can leave children sleeping in offices or placed in group and residential facilities.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
At Issue with Mark Welp is a local public television program presented by WTVP
At Issue with Mark Welp
Why Central Illinois Needs More Foster Families
Clip: Season 4 Episode 2 | 42sVideo has Closed Captions
The need for foster families is especially significant in Central Illinois. Cathy Newbury of Let It Be Us explains how Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties have high numbers of youth in care and why a shortage of available foster homes can leave children sleeping in offices or placed in group and residential facilities.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Where to Watch At Issue with Mark Welp
At Issue with Mark Welp is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipI want to talk about that a little bit later, how families can get more involved in this, but let's talk about the need.
How bad is the need, especially here in central Illinois?
- Well, just to go off of what you said, in Illinois, there are over 15,000 youth in care.
And the Tri-County area, Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford, are among the highest.
Peoria County is among the highest of having youth in care.
We do not have enough families for these youth, and what we're trying to prevent is for the kids to be sleeping in offices or maybe put into group homes or residential facilities because there's no home for them.
- Mm-hmm.
- And it's really not difficult to take a child in and help them.
Should Foster Parents Be Afraid of Getting Attached?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S4 Ep2 | 1m 3s | Getting attached to a foster child isn't the problem. Cathy Newbury explains why. (1m 3s)
What Makes Someone a Good Foster Parent?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S4 Ep2 | 44s | Money and a big house don't make a good foster parent. Cathy Newbury explains what does. (44s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
New Episode- News and Public Affairs

Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.
New Episode- News and Public Affairs

Today's top journalists discuss Washington's current political events and public affairs.



New Episode
New Episode
New Episode
New Episode
New Episode
New Episode
New Episode
Support for PBS provided by:
At Issue with Mark Welp is a local public television program presented by WTVP

