Organization Seeks Homes for Orphaned Haitians

Many children have lost their families and homes in last week's earthquake in Haiti may end up in North Texas.

Even before the massive quake, Haiti was already home to hundreds of thousands of orphaned children.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth is currently looking for people and families to foster Haitian orphans who may come to North Texas.

"With our expertise in working in foster care in general, and specifically providing foster care for international children, we felt like we could provide high quality services,” said spokeswoman Sara Ramirez.

It's not yet known how many children were orphaned by the earthquake, or how many of them will end up in the United States.

Currently, Catholic Charities has immediate foster care placement capabilities for up to 10 Haitian children. But the organization is open to accepting as many as 40 children as needed to help in the relief efforts.

"What we're all trying to do right now is just be prepared, so that when and if the children are allowed to come over to the United States, that we can meet the needs right then and there,” Ramirez said.

There is no guarantee orphans from Haiti will be placed with the organization.

Ramon Hernandez, of Haltom City, said his family is among those ready to accept the children. Hernandez has a wife, two young daughters and another baby on the way.

He said they are ready to help any child from Haiti who may be in need of love and protection.

"We want our house to be a place where they can be protected, where they feel comfortable and where they can have a good place to grow up and be safe," he said.

Hernandez said he believes other families out there like his  ready to step up and help.

"This is not a movie, this is serious,” Hernandez said. “People's lives are being broken, and so I would definitely hope that people are actually taking this to heart and trying to see where they fit in to the big picture.”

Catholic Charities said families are also needed to foster refugee children expected to arrive from Burma and parts of Africa.

For more information, contact Catholic Charities Diocese Fort Worth at 817-534-0814 or visit it's Web site at: www.CatholicCharitiesFortWorth.org.

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