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KVC Health Systems

Retired Korean couple steps up to foster Korean children

*Photo credit: Los Angeles Times

Gabriel and Elizabeth Cho are a retired couple living in Southern California who have raised two children – a son who is a doctor and a daughter who is a teacher. With only a dog named Happy left to care for, their two-story home was fairly quiet. While watching the news one night, the Chos learned about the need for Korean foster parents in Los Angeles County.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, some of the 600-800 Asian and Pacific Islander children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect in Los Angeles County were able to be placed temporarily with relatives. Others, however, were placed in homes where the language, food and culture were foreign to them.

“I thought, ‘OK, maybe it’s my place to take care of them.” – Mr. Cho

Putting their plans to travel on the back burner, the Chos drove to Anaheim to hear more about how they could help these children from a nonprofit organization called Korean American Family Services. Connie Chung Joe, the agency’s executive director, described how Korea traditionally places children in orphanages rather than foster homes. Due to the shortage of Korean foster families in Los Angeles, many young immigrants who are removed from their homes end up in white, Latino or African American families.

The Chos decided to begin the process of becoming licensed foster parents. They underwent background checks, home inspections and completed their training. Soon enough, they were asked to foster a Korean brother and sister who had been separated and placed in different foster homes. The Cho’s accepted and on September 16, the siblings were reunited. The Chos had experience parenting a son and daughter, and even though these new siblings came with some challenges, they were glad to feel joy in their hearts and in their home. By deciding to open their home to Korean children in need, the Chos helped in promoting the children’s sense of identify and self-esteem, which develops from knowing their own family history and culture.

Click here to read more about the Chos decision to become foster parents. If you would like to help a child or teen, consider becoming a foster or adoptive parent.

(If you’re interested in learning more about the transition from orphanages to foster family care, see “Singapore Learns From KVC’s Journey Toward Community-Based Care” or visit our Consulting page.)