Category: Foster Care

You just have to raise your hand

January is National Mentoring Month meant to spotlight the importance of mentors and the need for each child to have a caring adult in his or her life.  While almost any child could benefit from having a mentor, one population that needs positive and genuine relationships more than anyone is children and youth in foster care.  Two of my favorite PSAs were produced by Casey Family Programs as part of their Raise Me Up campaign.  While the campaign’s website is no longer active, I was able to find the PSAs on Youtube:

One of CCAI’s own Foster Youth Interns from last year, Sam Martin shared about his own mentor saying, “He stepped into a father role for me.  He’s been there whenever I’ve needed him because he knows I don’t have any other support.  He is one of the reasons I flourished.  I really don’t know where I’d be without him.  He has changed my life.”

Studies continue to confirm this message–mentors make an important and lasting impact in the lives of children.  Children who are mentored are 45% less likely to use illicit drugs, 59% more likely to succeed in school, and 73% more likely to attain higher life achievement goals.

Be sure to visit nationalmentoringmonth.org to learn how you can get involved in mentoring this month!

Adoption! adoption! read all about it

This week, several news stories about adoption have appeared, from new celebrities showing an interest in adoption to a couple using a billboard to express their interest in becoming adoptive parents.  From North Carolina courts voiding an adoption by one of their lesbian state senators to a new Michigan law ensuring relatives are given special consideration when placing children who are in foster care.

While I could spend time commenting on any one of these unique stories, it’s this video that I’d rather draw your attention to:

This video was shared by Forever Family, whose founder Gia Tutalo-Mote was a 2009 Angel in Adoption.

It serves as a simple reminder that until each child has just that, a forever family, our work is not done.  Thank you all for your partnership and support of this past year.  We’re looking forward to continuing to be a voice for the world’s orphans in 2011, and hopefully celebrating new victories in our fight to ensure each child has a loving home and bright future.

 

how lucky that little boy is…

Tens of thousands across the country will be celebrating National Adoption Day tomorrow.  While I could reiterate the magnitude of this effort, I wanted to focus on what National Adoption Day means beyond the balloons, press releases, proclamations, dress clothes, and photographers of tomorrow’s events.

The love of a mother or father is fundamental to our lives.  Well into my twenties, I’m realizing that my need for parents is no less now than before.  It’s a loving parent that gives children a sense of security, a knowing that they have a place to call home, a reality that they are not in this world alone.  A parent is a child’s biggest fan.  A parent is who will fight any battle for that child.

As a trained social worker I couldn’t let tomorrow come without addressing the significant impact on the emotional development of the child.  Research and common sense tell us that the best place for a child to grow and develop is in a family.  Children need stability and a sense of security in order for a healthy physical, psychological, and social development.  Childhood experiences forever impact the people we become and the success of later life.

As I was driving to work this morning, I was thinking about the courtroom celebrations that would be taking place tomorrow.  But my mind wandered to one adoption day story I will never forget.  Last year, my boss was attending a young boy’s foster care adoption finalization along with one of our Foster Youth Interns who had aged out of foster care himself.  Now this intern would remind you of a football linebacker, and would never be pegged for a bleeding heart.  But as the judge was leading the ceremony before signing the adoption decree, “do you agree to be adopted?  will you provide a suitable home for this child?  this child will now have all of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being your child.”  The new mother, so overcome with emotion, could barely spell her name aloud for the court reporter.  As my boss sat next to our intern, she looked over and noticed tears in his eyes.  He leaned in to her and said, “I’m sorry, I’m usually not emotional…but I can’t help but think how lucky that little boy is.”

With tears streaming down my face remembering this story, it was then that I was reminded just how important tomorrow is.  We all work in this field because we are passionate and hope to see not one more youth age out of the foster care system with that longing for a family unfulfilled, wanting nothing more than a parent to be proud as they walk across the graduation stage, wanting a parent to call them on their birthday, or knowing they always have a place to go for the holidays .

As we leave our National Adoption Day celebrations tomorrow, we cannot fail to remember the 114,000 children and youth still waiting for a family to call their own, and the 30,000 youth who will age out of foster care this year.

Members of Congress Support National Adoption Day

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Adoption Day Resolution expressing their support for the day and the overall effort to see children adopted out of foster care and raised in a family with the love and support needed to thrive.  The House recognized that, “every day loving and nurturing families are strengthened and expanded when committed and dedicated individuals make an important difference in the life of a child through adoption.”

To that end, several Members of Congress who champion this issue expressed their support for National Adoption Day:

“Thousands of children are waiting for loving and supportive homes,” said Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.). “National Adoption Day serves as a reminder to put these children first. It’s our duty to find them the love they need and deserve.”

“It’s vital to raise awareness about the need for adoptive families and to recognize those that provide a safe environment for children in need,” said Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio). “I have long advocated for improving the adoption process because I believe every child deserves a caring, stable and secure place to grow up. With initiatives like National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month, hopefully more children will gain permanent homes.”

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), founding member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) and child welfare advocate, said, “There is nothing more important for a child than to be raised in a supporting and loving family. A family is where children are taught values that serve as the foundation of lifelong decisions, where they gain a sense of belonging and find confidence in themselves. For more than a decade, tireless judges, attorneys, child advocates and hundreds of volunteers around the country dedicate National Adoption Day to changing lives. They are giving these children a permanent place to call home.”

Research and reason continue to tell us that children need stability as they grow. To that end, adoption has the power to forever impact the life and future success of a child.

“For children in foster care, stability is critical. National Adoption Day reminds us of our commitment and duty to the hundreds of thousands of foster children who are waiting for the stability of a permanent and loving home,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.).

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), founder and co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, said, “Thousands of children are adopted on this day every year. And the day draws attention to the many other children who are waiting for a permanent family. Adoption not only brings these children the immediate benefits of a loving family, but it also gives them a greater chance at educational opportunities and future success than if they age out of foster care without a permanent connection. I appreciate the work of advocates, adoptive parents and young people whose commitment brings families together.”

Personally aware of how significant adoption can be to the life of a child and to a family, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) shares, “Adoption creates a family where none existed before. My wife and I have two amazing sons and the family we prayed for thanks to the miracle of adoption and two mothers who chose life. Cathy and I now can’t imagine what our lives used to be like. Because every child needs the security of a loving family, that is my prayer for this National Adoption Day.”

“Families are the cornerstone of our communities and I applaud each and every family that has opened their homes and their hearts to children in need,” said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.). “Adoption enriches lives immeasurably and on this National Adoption Day, thousands of children and families will learn this life-changing lesson firsthand. It is my hope that every child in need finds a permanent, loving and supportive family.”

Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), a leader on adoption issues in the House, said, “Every child deserves to have a safe, loving and permanent home. I am truly humbled by the thousands of families who open their hearts and homes every year to adoptive children, and everyone who helps children find families through adoption. I proudly support the work of initiatives like National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month that help bring awareness to the need to continue to improve our adoption and foster care systems.”

“As a supporter of National Adoption Day, I believe that every child deserves a loving family with parents to guide them through their childhood. National Adoption Day is a celebration of committed individuals and families willing to step up and provide a loving, caring and supportive home for a foster child. Let us therefore celebrate the endless efforts of child care advocates, and our courageous children waiting in the foster care system,” said Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). “I encourage everyone to help make the dream of belonging to a permanent family a reality.”

For the press release, please click here.

Watch FMC’s Short Video ’24 Hours in DC’

Fostering Media Connections (FMC) organized a press conference with CCAI held at the end of last month to draw media attention to the lack of educational stability for foster youth.  Our goal was to highlight the need for the department of education to work along with the department of child welfare to coordinate a plan for educational stability for youth in care.  Watch FMC’s short video about the days leading up to our press conference:

For a full video of the press conference, click here.

Foster youth speak out on Dr. Phil Show tomorrow

Two of CCAI’s 2010 Foster Youth Interns, Sam Martin and Wendy Ruiz will appear along with Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on the Dr. Phil Show tomorrow, Friday, October 1st.  The show will focus on the need to improve outcomes of older youth in care and those aging out to live on their own without the necessary supports.  Be sure to tune in!  Check your local listings here.

The show’s website gives a preview of tomorrow’s show:

No Child Forgotten

There are hundreds of thousands of children in foster care right now. Many are the silent victims of abuse and neglect, spending their entire childhoods being tossed from house to house, slipping through the cracks in the foster care system. Dr. Phil gives a voice to the children who feel thrown away and unloved. Find out how you can help a child in need! And, Cindy and Mick are well-intended parents of adopted sisters, Danielle, 13, and Marie, 11. They say they struggle to parent their oldest daughter, who lies and is very angry. Dr. Phil gives a powerful demonstration of what it’s like for kids in foster care, and what they deal with even after they are placed in a permanent, loving home. Then, meet Stacy, 19, who entered foster care at 10 and endured years of horrific abuse before aging out of the system at 18. She struggles to find resources to help her in college. Dr. Phil has several amazing surprises for the teen! And, Dr. Phil and Robin are national spokespersons for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Learn how to become a CASA and help change a child’s life!