More foster parents are needed to help support vulnerable young people in Bermuda.

Tinee Furbert, the Minister of Social Development and Seniors, said that while there are 65 children in foster care, there was still a need for more people willing to assist.

Ms Furbert said: “We have many children who require a foster family. We ask those community members who can assist to come forward and help us in this area.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Child and Family Services said it was “critical” to offer community support for children in the foster care system.

She said: “Our dire need is to have newly approved foster families willing to be on standby to take children in as DCFS is mandated to respond to new referrals as they arise wherein children may be deemed to be in need of care.”

The spokeswoman noted that May is Foster Care Month, and that the Department will host an event on May 22 to celebrate the island’s foster parents at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.

“The Department has been extremely fortunate with the foster parents we have had thus far,” she said.

“We are truly grateful for those who have opened their homes and hearts to foster a child. We are sincerely thankful and hope that more individuals open their homes to foster a child.”

For more information on becoming a foster parent, call 294-5871 or e-mail Selena Simons at smsimons@gov.bm