SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Salem area volunteers are working to make the interactions between children in protective custody and their original guardians a little more cheerful.
Abused or neglected children visiting with their biological parents or family members will likely meet in the department’s family rooms.
The Statesman Journal reports (https://stjr.nl/1e93kTU ) a volunteer group painted 8,300 square feet of wall space in 14 visitation rooms on Saturday and Sunday.
Salem foster parent Malia Witham says many of the children come to the facility with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing when taken into protective custody.
The rooms are in constant use, with about 230 visits weekly. The building is leased and the rooms weren’t scheduled to be repainted this year, despite considerable daily wear and tear.
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