YUMA, AZ (KYMA, KECY) – There are nearly 400,000 children in foster care in the United States. Yuma County has a growing need to open up housing locally, so that number may be higher than you might think.

Matt Lipan, director of community engagement for Arizona Helping Hands, says the number of licensed foster parents is on the decline.

The organization works with state-licensed foster parents and carers to provide daily essentials.

There are 11,000 children in the state’s foster care system, but there aren’t enough homes to take them, Lipan said.

Helping Hands opened its doors 25 years ago. Based in Phoenix, we provide a variety of basic necessities for foster parents and legal guardians across the state.

Essentials range from cribs and hygiene kits to shoes and school supplies.

Irene Luna unexpectedly became the guardian of two children, and Helping Hands connected with her to provide basic necessities and support to become a licensed foster parent.

The most important thing Luna learned during her three years in foster care in Yuma is that knowledge matters.

“I don’t have enough information. I didn’t know anything. Everything was new,” explained Luna.

Victor Durazo works with Intermountain Centers, specifically working to connect foster parents with temporary housing and obtain foster parent/carer licences.

“There are about 14,000 children in foster care across the state, and about 400 in Yuma alone,” Durazo explained.