No matter how horrible a setting from which children are removed, they will often experience intense grief, at the loss of their family, what they’ve already known, and even into adoption they can grieve the loss of their hopes and dreams of a happily-ever-after reunion with their birth parents. 

As a foster-adoptive parent, it’s important to know how to support children in foster care around releasing their false ideas, which fuel their grief, and empowering them with positive and effective ways of dealing with their losses.

Richard has over 30 years of public service experience and loves to help people. He started his career serving as a firefighter/paramedic for the city on Canton. While employed there, he finished his Master’s degree and began working as Juvenile Court/Mental Administrator for a children’s mental health agency. Mr. Bennett was responsible for establishing the county ‘s juvenile firesetting program. In January of 1999 he was hired as a professor of fire protection and served there until the fall of 2020. From January of 2005, he serves as founder and pastor of Dayspring Family Church in North Canton, Ohio. Richard is a certified trainer for the Institute Human Services and trains in the areas of Juvenile Firesetters as well as diversity issues.