Senator encourages Rose Day advocates to sign up to be foster parents

On Wednesday, February 5, hundreds of Oklahomans will visit the State Capitol for the 23rd annual Rose Day to ask legislators to support pro-life legislation this session. For the second year, Sen. Harry Coates is asking these citizens to do more than just advocate against abortion but to help Oklahoma’s hundreds of children in foster care by signing up to be a foster parent.

“After serving in the Senate for twelve years, I’ve found few issues that really make a difference in people’s lives. I’m very passionate about children’s welfare, and I appreciate everyone who takes the time to come fight for this important issue but more must be done to protect Oklahoma’s children,” said Coates, R-Seminole. “We can’t fight for the unborn and then ignore all the children who are brought into the world only to be abandoned by their parents or put into state custody because of abuse or neglect. We must fight for these kids as well and the best way to do that is to sign up to be their foster parent.”

As he did last year, Coates will only accept roses from those who sign up to be foster parents. A sign-up sheet will be available in his Senate office (Room 232). Last year, eight people signed up to be foster parents on Rose Day.

Coates and his wife are strong advocates of foster care and have fostered over a dozen children in the last two years.

“As a foster parent myself, I can tell you that there is nothing more rewarding than giving a loving home to a child. Not only are you providing them with a safe family environment, you’re giving them hope, unconditional love and respect – things that are typically lacking in their lives,” said Coates. “I can’t think of better-suited group of people than Rose Day participants to open their homes and hearts to these precious children.”

There are currently over 11,000 children in the OKDHS foster care system. Unfortunately, nearly 230 of those have to stay in the state’s overnight shelters because there simply aren’t enough foster parents, but the agency is working diligently to recruit hundreds of new qualified foster parents.