Foster parents are needed in Mississippi and Rescue 100 is offering free orientation in Hazlehurst with additional training at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

200 Million Flowers, a non-profit organization that specializes in connecting children and families throughout the state by adoption, foster care, social services and outreach, wants to create 300 new foster parents this year.

Through Rescue 100, it is combining efforts with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, the Mississippi Commission on Children’s Justice and churches across the state to provide homes for children in the foster care system.

In addition, partner social service agencies such as Mississippi Children’s Home Services and Southern Christian Services for Children and You are looking for families who will be a therapeutic foster care home. All organizations work together to provide training and certification.

To learn more, families and individuals can register to participate in an orientation session. If married, both spouses must attend orientation and training.

Orientation will be held in Hazlehurst July 17, but will also be held in Hattiesburg July 10, Columbia July 11, Brandon July 13 and Natchez July 18.

At the one-hour orientation, families will learn about the Biblical basis for foster care, what being a resource family looks like and how they can become licensed to be a foster care family.

Those who participate in the orientation will complete their requirements at the Rescue 100 Training Weekend at Co-Lin July 28, 6-9 p.m.; July 29, 8 a.m.—8 p.m.; and July 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Space is limited at the training weekend to 100 families.

For more information, visit www.200millionflowers.org/rescue100.