Adoption Wednesday - Aging Out of Foster Care

Hey Y'all:

It's been way to long since I've done an Adoption Wednesday post. I was roaming the web and came across this video on YouTube about children who have been in the foster care system and aged out.

This is why we need people to adopt domestically so kids don't know what it means to "age out!"





Please visit Adoptuskids.org if you are ready.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Adoption Wednesday: The Mom Factor

Hey Y'all:

This Christmas Miss Leah received her first baby doll and carriage. Her dad stared at her in awe because he couldn't believe that his 20 month old daughter knew what to do with a baby doll. Is it just maternal instinct he kept asking me? Of course it is I told him, mommy's just know how to handle their babies! Even at 20 months old. Leah's doll says, mama, papa, bye bye, it snores and it cries. The boys are typical boys! Erick wants to play football with the doll and Myles wants to sit in the carriage.

If Leah is not near her doll and hears her make noise, she immediately stops what she's doing and goes to find out what's going on. The cutest thing is watching her console her doll! She's a little mama and it's too cute.

Watching my little girl with her doll made me think of all the women out there who are childless, going through every procedure known to man to conceive. Although I know first hand how it feels to want an child and not be able to have one, I want you to know that there is an alternative.

Adoption Wednesday - Ways to Help

Hey Y'all:

For those of you who would love to become a foster or adoptive parent but don't have the room, time or resources to go through the process, please consider some of the following options.

Children in the system can use your help in other ways then becomeing a parent to them. Check out these ideas from About.com. I picked six things from the list that I will do in 2010!

Drive! Many agencies need people to drive foster children to various appointments. Appointments could be visits with birth family, medical or dental visits, or to a new foster home. Some trips may entail long distances. Call your local agencies and see if this is a need in your area.

Walk! Through a new walking event, Walk Me Home, teams can raise funds that will directly benefit local agencies that work with foster children and the families that serve them.

Become a Court-Appointed Special Advocate/CASA worker. CASA workers are volunteers that work with the court and the foster homes to see that the children are not lost in the system and that their needs and wants are heard.

Become a Big Brother or Sister. Spend 3-4 hours a week with a child and make a difference. Have fun! Teach them a new hobby or learn about theirs. Not every child in the Big Brother Big Sister organization is a foster child, but many are. Help make a difference by taking time for a child. Find out more at the Big Brother/Big Sister Web site.

Volunteer at a children's home. Children's homes are usually one of the first stops on the foster care journey for many kids, or it could be a stop in-between foster homes. Children's homes are often looking for volunteers to do many different duties. Some may include wrapping Christmas/Birthday gifts, sorting through donations, reading to the children, or even playing games. Find out what your local children's home's needs are and see what you can do to help.

Donate items to a children's home or foster care agency. Many need school supplies, shoes, clothes, or even toys. Suitcases or bags of any kind are often needed. Did you know that many children go from home to home with their belongings in trash bags? Make sure you donate items that are in good repair. If you wouldn't let your own child wear it, don't send it on to agencies or homes. Some places prefer new items so call ahead.

There are many ways to help children in foster care. Call your local foster care agencies or children's home and see what needs you can fulfill.

Until next time...

MUAH!

Adoption Wednesday - A Conversation with Marian Bennett

Hey Y'all:

Finally took out some time to interview my Mom and get her answers to why she decided to become a Foster and Adoptive Mother.

Now that your youngest child just turned 18 I thought I would pick your brain. Hope you have a little while for some questions that I can share with folks on my blog. I know this has been a journey for you and I think more people need to know about domestic adoption.

Why did you become a foster/adoptive parent?
I became a foster parent because I thought I could make a difference in the lives of children who need it.

How many children did you foster before you adopted a child?
Six children and it was hard to let them go. That's the thing about foster care you aren't guaranteed to keep the child(ren). One child that I had to let go really hurt. She was a part of our family and doing so well with us. It was really hard to send her back to her family. I think of her often and wonder how big she is now.

What was the transition like from foster to adoptive parent?

The transition wasn't difficult because the family of children I adopted were in my care for three years. What was hard was the waiting period. Parents have rights. So we had to wait until the parents rights and those of any family members were terminated. Once that was done we went to family court, when the judge had us say our "I do's" it was like a weight was lifted. They were now mine!

Would you suggest foster/adoptive parenting to those you love?

Yes. I am actually responsible for my niece and sister adopting four children, church members have become foster/adoptive parents because of me and I would do it all over again.

Hope this "interview" helped and has motivated you to take action. If you have room in your home and your heart think about foster care!

Until next time...

MUAH!

Adoption Wednesday: Foster Care

Hey Y'all:

Welcome to another Adoption Wednesday post. Today I'd like to talk about a path to adoption that can help a child in need.

Here are some steps to take to become a Foster Parent in NYS... I'm sure the steps are similar in most states sometimes even a bit simpler.

The prospective foster home must be evaluated and determined to meet basic physical, health, and safety requirements. Homefinders visit prospective foster parents at home and collect detailed information about the applicants as well as other household members and potential caregivers for the child. In general, prospective foster parents are asked about:

• Experience with raising children.
• Experience with issues of child abuse or neglect.
• Approach to discipline.
• Awareness of the importance of measures that provide a safe environment for children.
• Awareness of the potential impact of foster parenting on family members and the family’s current life style.
• Ability and interest in being a partner in carrying out the permanency plan.

The next Adoption Wednesday will follow up on this topic.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Adoption Wednesday: Adopt Us Kids

Hey Y'all:

Welcome to another adoption Wednesday.

I recently read an article in the NY Times that spoke about children aging out of the foster care system. It made me really sad to know that Devin a 13 year old has been in foster care his ENTIRE life. This means he has been passed around from foster home to foster home without finally being released for adoption. It saddens me because this young person will never feel a mother's love. It saddens me because a child like him would have loved to be adopted by an Angelina Jolie or Madonna, but instead he went from foster home to foster home without help in sight, while Mrs Jolie and Mrs Madonna went outside of the country to find a baby.

Don't get me wrong I know that it's easier to go outside of the country to adopt but still...

Foster care agencies are keeping children in care for more then four years. After the rights of their parents have been terminated, after it's been confirmed that they CAN be adopted by a loving family. In NYC alone, according to The Children's Rights report; 2,600 of the city's 15,800 foster children no longer had a goal of returning to their homes or getting adopted. These children will most likely stay in foster care until they are 21! 21 year old people who have never felt the love of a mother!

Please check out this link and if you are interested in adoption or foster care to adoption. PLEASE click it and find out more information for your state, there is a child out there who needs your love. Adopt Us Kids