>>>
>>> OREGON'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN CRISIS FOR YEARS.
KIDS ARE PAYING THE PRICE.
WHILE THE STATE STRUGGLES
COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS AND
ADVOCATES ARE COMMITTED TO
IMPROVING THE LIVES OF KIDS AND
FAMILIES WHO FEEL THE IMPACT.
TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY THE
LEADERS OF TWO NONPROFITS.
DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING
CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND THE
FAMILIES THAT CARE FOR THEM.
FROM KGW NEWS THIS IS STRAIGHT
TALK.
TALK.
TALK. >>>
TALK. >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO
STRAIGHT TALK.
STRAIGHT TALK. I'M DAN HAGGERTY.
IT HAS BEEN LONG KNOWN OREGON'S
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS.
JANUARY OF LAST YEAR THE OREGON
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE
RELEASED AN AUDIT OF THE STATES
CHILD WERE FROM OUR SYSTEM.
IT FOUND CHRONIC MANAGEMENT
FAILURES.
FAILURES.
FAILURES. A LACK OF RECRUITING AND
RETENTION OF FOSTER PARENTS.
NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR PARENTS
AND DEEPLY INADEQUATE STAFFING.
JUST THIS WEEK THE OREGON
SECRETARY OF STATE RELEASED A
NEW REPORT CHECKING IN ON
PROGRESS MADE BY DHS.
IT FOUND IT STILL NEEDS
EXTENSIVE WORK.
EXTENSIVE WORK. ACCORDING TO OREGON'S CHILD
WELFARE DIRECTOR THERE ARE MORE
THAN 7500 CHILDREN IN FOSTER
CARE IN OREGON TODAY.
MORE THAN 11,000 CHILDREN SPENT
AT LEAST ONE DAY IN FOSTER CARE
IN 2018.
IN 2018.
IN 2018. THE CRISIS IS A LOT CLOSER THAN
HOME YOU MIGHT THINK.
THESE CHILDREN ARE OUR
NEIGHBORS ARE SCHOOL CLASSMATES.
TO PUT NUMBERS IN PERSPECTIVE
IN 2017 WITHIN JUST FIVE MILES
OF THE KGW STUDIOS FOR INSTANCE
THERE WERE 670 CHILDREN IN
FOSTER CARE.
FOSTER CARE. DESPITE THE FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM
THERE ARE COUNTLESS PEOPLE IN
OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW WHO ARE
WORKING TO HELP.
TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY TWO
WOMEN WITH MADE IT THEIR
MISSION TO IMPROVE FOSTER CARE
IN OREGON.
IN OREGON. WELCOME OUR GUEST ALLIE ROTH
THE FOUNDER OF WITH LOVE AND
THE FOUNDER OF EMBRACE OREGON.
THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR
TAKING THIS TIME NOT ONLY IN
YOUR LIVES TO HELP THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM BUT FOR TELLING US
ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND MAYBE
HELPING OTHER FOLKS KNOW A PATH
TO HELPING OUT.
LET'S START BY TALKING A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE.
EXPERIENCE. HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED WITH THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM INITIALLY
AND HOW IT GREW INTO YOUR
ORGANIZATIONS YOU'RE WORKING
WITH NOW.
WITH NOW.
WITH NOW. ALLIE.
ALLIE.
ALLIE. >>
ALLIE. >> AS A SCHOOLTEACHER I LOVED
TEACHING.
TEACHING.
TEACHING. I LOVED AS A TEACHER KIDS IN
FOSTER CARE WERE IN MY
CLASSROOM.
CLASSROOM. WHEN I HAD MY FIRST SON I
REALIZED I WAS GOING TO BE
LEAVING SOME OF THOSE KIDS
BEHIND IN FOSTER CARE.
THAT WAS ONE MORE PERSON
LEAVING THEIR LIVES.
I STARTED TUTORING THE KIDS
AFTER SCHOOL.
AFTER SCHOOL. I GOT TO KNOW THEM AND THEIR
CASEWORKERS AND THEIR SIBLINGS.
AS I GOT TO KNOW THE YOUNGER
SIBLINGS I STARTED ASKING
CASEWORKERS WHO HELPS TO GET
SUPPLIES FOR THESE KIDS THAT
ARE UNDER AGE 6? WHO GETS THEIR
SHOES?
SHOES?
SHOES? WILL GET THEIR CLOTHES.
? I HAD RESOURCES BUT I HAD THE
PTA.
PTA.
PTA. I
PTA. I HAD OTHER FRIENDS I WAS THEY
CAME GET INVOLVED.
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE BUYING
STROLLERS FOR THESE FAMILIES.
WHAT ABOUT THESE LITTLE KIDS.
? THE CASEWORKERS THAT THERE
ISN'T THAT MANY RESOURCES OUT
THERE.
THERE.
THERE. AS
THERE. AS I STARTED LEARNING MORE
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT COME
INTO FOSTERING I SAID I CAN DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
I HAD MY OWN LITTLE ONE IN TOW.
OUT OF MY HOUSE IN WESTLAKE IN
LAKE OSWEGO I STARTED TO CREATE
WHAT HAS LAUNCHED INTO WITH
LOVE.
LOVE.
LOVE. THERE HAS TO BE SOMEONE OUT
HERE SUPPORTING THESE LITTLE
KIDS THAT ARE NOT SCHOOL AGE.
WITH LOVE STARTED IN MY HOUSE.
THIS WAS NOT A PLANNED THING IT
STARTED OUT TO BE WHAT IT IS
NOW.
NOW.
NOW. MY
NOW. MY HUSBAND CALLS IT HOARDING.
LOVINGLY OF COURSE.
FOR YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH LOVE
WAS OUT OF MY HOUSE.
WE SERVE LOCAL KIDS IN FOSTER
CARE AGES 0 TO 6. UNDER SCHOOL
AGE.
AGE.
AGE. WE
AGE. WE GIVE THEM CLOTHES TOYS
CONSUMABLES ALL THE THINGS A
KID WOULD NEED GOING INTO A NEW
PLACEMENT.
PLACEMENT. EVERY THREE MONTHS WHEN KIDS
GROW IN TERMS OF AGE OR SEASONS
CHANGE WE FOLLOW-UP WITH
DELIVERIES.
DELIVERIES. AS WE STARTED IN OUR GRASSROOTS
NONPROFIT.
NONPROFIT. I STARTED TO GET TO KNOW FOSTER
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. I HAVE A LITTLE BOY WHO IS NINE.
AND GRACE WHO IS FOUR WILL BE
FIVE IN JUNE.
WE DECIDED WE WERE MEETING ALL
THESE FAMILIES WITH.
WHY DON'T WE SAY YES?
WE HAD ALL THE REASONS WHY.
MY HUSBAND IS A CEO.
I RUN A COMPANY.
I WAS GETTING TO KNOW THESE
KIDS.
KIDS.
KIDS. I
KIDS. I WAS FALLING IN LOVE.
AND I SAID THESE HEROES THEY
ARE BUSY.
ARE BUSY.
ARE BUSY. THESE HEROES ARE SAYING YES TO
THESE FOSTER PARENTS HAVE OTHER
KIDS.
KIDS.
KIDS. WHY
KIDS. WHY DON'T WE SAY YES?
MY HUSBAND AND I OPENED UP OUR
HOUSE TO OUR FIRST PLACEMENT.
THE LAST TWO AND HALF YEARS WE
HAVE HAD EIGHT BABIES IN OUR
HOUSE.
HOUSE.
HOUSE. WE
HOUSE. WE DO RESCUED CARE AND SHORT-
TERM CARE.
TERM CARE. OUR KIDS ARE DRUG AFFECTED THAT
COME A LOT OF TIMES FROM THE
HOSPITALS AND ART WITH THE
DRAWING.
DRAWING.
DRAWING. THEY GO BACK TO EITHER PARENTS
OR THEY GO TO GRANDPARENTS OR
ADOPTIVE FAMILIES LOOKING FOR
THEIR NEXT STEP.
WE ARE FOSTER PARENTS.
WE ALSO HAVE.
>>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WHAT A STORY.
>>> TELL US HOW YOU GOT STARTED
IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND
HOW YOUR ORGANIZATION GREW.
MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED
FOSTERING BEFORE WE HAD
BIOLOGICAL KIDS.
BIOLOGICAL KIDS. WE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM SOME
WORK AT AN ORPHANAGE IN CENTRAL
AMERICA.
AMERICA.
AMERICA. WE ASKED THE QUESTION OR OTHER
VULNERABLE CHILDREN HERE?
THAT LED US TO THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM. WE DID NOT KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT HAD FOSTERED BEFORE.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING I WAS
FAMILIAR WITH.
FAMILIAR WITH. WE STARTED FOSTERING IN NEW
YORK.
YORK.
YORK. AND
YORK. AND HAD A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY WE
FOSTERED FOR A YEAR.
THE REASON I SHARE THAT IS
BECAUSE THE STORY DROPS OFF
AFTER HE LEFT OUR HOME.
WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
TO HIM.
TO HIM.
TO HIM. I
TO HIM. I WILL CIRCLE BACK TO THAT.
WE MOVED TO OREGON 12 YEARS AGO.
WE HAD TWO SMALL BIOLOGICAL
CHILDREN AT THAT TIME.
I MADE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING
TO BE A INFORMATIONAL CALL TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES.
SERVICES.
SERVICES. WE WERE CERTIFIED ALREADY IN
ANOTHER STATE.
ANOTHER STATE. WE GOT A BABY BOY WHO IS NOW MY
ADOPTIVE 10-YEAR-OLD SON.
WE ALSO FOSTERED AND ADOPTED
ANOTHER CHILD.
ANOTHER CHILD. WHO IS NOW SEVEN.
THEY ARE NOT RELATED.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN FOSTERING
FOR 16 YEARS.
THE SIX-YEAR-OLD LITTLE BOY
THAT WE FOSTERED IN NEW YORK
AFTER 14 YEARS OF NO CONTACT WE
HAVE RECONNECTED WITH HIM.
HE HAS BECOME A PART OF OUR
FAMILY AS WELL.
I HAVE TWO BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTERS
AND THREE BOYS THAT HAVE COME
TO ME TO THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM. >>> TALK ABOUT YOUR
ORGANIZATION.
ORGANIZATION. >>> 12 YEARS IN 2011 I ASKED MY
TRUSTED CASEWORKER WHAT HAPPENS
TO CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE
ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TIME OF
WAITING?
WAITING?
WAITING? THEY HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM
WHATEVER SITUATION THEY HAVE
BEEN REMOVED FROM AND ARE
AWAITING A BASEMENT.
SHE DESCRIBED THIS PICTURE OF
SCRAMBLING EACH AND EVERY TIME.
I REALLY STARTED DOING THE MATH
OF THE TRI-COUNTY AREA AND
THOUGHT THIS WAS SOMETHING THE
COMMUNITY CAN STEP INTO ANY
PRACTICAL TANGIBLE WAY.
I STARTED SOMETHING CALLED
WELCOME BOXES TO THE SUPPORT OF
MY FAITH COMMUNITY THROUGH A
GRANT.
GRANT.
GRANT. I
GRANT. I ASKED MY LOCAL OFFICE HOW
MANY KIDS ARE WAITING IN THIS
OFFICE IN A YEAR? THEY GAVE ME
THE NUMBER 300.
THAT WAS MY INITIAL GOAL.
WELCOME BOXES ARE COMFORT CARE
BOXES THAT ARE FILLED WITH
HYGIENE SUPPLIES AND GAMES ART
SUPPLIES AND THINGS OCCUPY A
CHILD IN THIS VULNERABLE TIME
OF WAITING.
OF WAITING. IT REALLY TOOK OFF IN A WAY
THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE PREDICT.
IT BECAME THIS HUMBLE CATALYST
FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BEGIN TO
ASK THE LARGER MORE IMPORTANT
QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS. WHY ARE CHILDREN WAITING IN A
GOVERNMENT OFFICE?
GOVERNMENT OFFICE? TO BEGIN WITH.
IT WAS REALLY THAT HUMBLE
CATALYST STARTING THE WELCOME
BOX PROJECT THAT LED TO THE
CREATION OF EMBRACE OREGON AND
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DHS.
THE THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE
AUDIT ON HOW THINGS SIT
CURRENTLY.
CURRENTLY. >>> TWO THINGS THEY DISCOVERED
WERE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET
NEW FAMILIES ON BOARD.
TO COMMIT TO THIS.
THE FAMILIES WERE ALREADY
INVOLVED IN FOSTERING CHILDREN
WERE GETTING BURNT OUT.
BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH THEY WERE
BEING ASKED TO DO AND HOW MUCH
TIME THEY WERE BEING ASKED TO
COMMIT.
COMMIT.
COMMIT. AS YOU TALK I'M IN AWE OF WHAT
YOU DO.
YOU DO.
YOU DO. A
YOU DO. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL FEEL THE
SAME WAY.
SAME WAY.
SAME WAY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE
FIRE BURNING IN THEM.
MAYBE SIT THIS IS SOMETHING I
WANT TO DO.
IT DOES SOUND SCARY.
IT DOES SOUND LIKE A HUGE
COMMITMENT.
COMMITMENT. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE
TO MAYBE ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE
THE LEAP?
THE LEAP?
THE LEAP? PEOPLE WHO THINK IT MIGHT BE
THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THEM.
>>> ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND
YEARS AGO WAS EITHER YOU ARE A
FOSTER PARENT OR YOU WEREN'T
AND THAT WAS IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT
WITH LOVE IS YOU CAN COME IN NO
MATTER WHERE YOU ARE OR WHAT
PART OF LIFE YOU ARE IN AND
JUST SAY I CAN GO AHEAD.
I CAN FOSTER A CHILD.
OR MAYBE I CAN COME IN AND DO
THE LAUNDRY FOR THAT CHILD.
MAYBE I CAN GO AHEAD AND PICK
UP SOME THINGS TO DO AT HOME. I
CAN PULL SOME STUFF FOR THESE
KIDS.
KIDS.
KIDS. THERE IS ONLY DIFFERENT THINGS
THEY CAN DO.
I CAN GET MY MONEY FOR THAT.
SELF-SUPPORT A CHILD IN FOSTER
CARE.
CARE.
CARE. WHEN YOU READ THIS AUDIT AND
SAY THERE IS SO MUCH RIGHT NOW
THEY NEED TO DO.
YOU CAN BE A LITTLE PART OF
THAT.
THAT.
THAT. SOLUTION.
SOLUTION.
SOLUTION. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE FOSTER
PARENT.
PARENT.
PARENT. JUST EVEN SAYING WHERE CAN I
START?
START?
START? >>
START? >> A LOT OF COMPONENTS.
A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
>>> I WOULD ALSO SAY WITH LOVE
WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE
PARADIGM.
PARADIGM.
PARADIGM. THERE ARE MANY ON RAMPS FOR
PEOPLE TO PLUG IN.
IT IS NOT JUST BECOME A FOSTER
PARENT.
PARENT.
PARENT. EMBRACE OREGON AND OUR
STATEWIDE BRAND EVERY CHILD
DOES OFFER A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR
PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO EVER BE HERE.
AND THAT IS OKAY.
>>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.
A LOT OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN
GENERAL.
GENERAL.
GENERAL. IF YOU COULD CHANGE SOMETHING.
IF YOU WERE ABLE TO GET
SOMETHING MOVING IN ONE
DIRECTION WHAT DO YOU THINK
WOULD MOST INFLUENCE THE SYSTEM
AS A WHOLE?
WHERE CAN PEOPLE PUT THEIR
ENERGY?
ENERGY?
ENERGY? >> THIS IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
IT IS NOT JUST THE FOSTER
PARENTS OR DHS.
IT IS A COMMUNITY THING WE CAN
ALL DO SOMETHING.
JUST KNOWING I CAN DO SOMETHING
VERSUS SOMEONE ELSE THAT IS A
STARTING POINT TO SAY IT COULD
BE THOSE WELCOME BOXES.
FOR ME IT COULD BE VOLUNTEERING
YOUR TIME AT WITH LOVE.
IT IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE.
IT IS NOT JUST A ONE-PERSON
ISSUE.
ISSUE.
ISSUE. >>> I WOULD SAY THAT I THINK IT
IS REALLY CHALLENGING TO TALK
ABOUT ALL OF THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM AND SAY THIS IS THE ONE
REASON IT IS SO CHALLENGING.
I THINK KIDS COMING AT THE
FOSTER CARE OFTEN HAVE A LOT OF
HIGH AND COMPLEX NEEDS.
I THINK THAT CAN BE A
CONVERSATION.
CONVERSATION. THERE COULD BE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT FOSTER PARENTS FEELING
LIKE A VALUED MEMBER OF THE
TEAM.
TEAM.
TEAM. BUT
TEAM. BUT I THINK WHAT I WOULD LOVE
TO SHARE IS JUST THAT IN ORDER
FOR PARTNERS AT DHS OF CHILD
WELFARE TO MAKE A BEST
PLACEMENT MATCH FOR A CHILD
THERE HAS TO BE CHOICE.
SO OFTEN HAVING A STRATEGIC
PLACEMENT MATCH ALMOST SEEMS
LIKE A LUXURY.
WHEN REALLY WE WANT TO BE ABLE
I THINK AS A COMMUNITY TO SAY
THESE ARE NOT JUST THE
GOVERNMENT CHILDREN.
GOVERNMENT CHILDREN. THESE ARE OUR AMENITIES
CHILDREN.
CHILDREN.
CHILDREN. WHAT IS OUR ROLE AS A COMMUNITY
AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THESE
KIDS THAT HAVE HAD PARENTS THAT
HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE UNTREATED MENTAL
ILLNESS INCARCERATION DRUG AND
ALCOHOL ABUSE? WHAT IS THE WAYS
WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE A SAFETY
NET FOR THEM.
THERE ARE ALL THESE A MAIN
AMAZING ON RAMPS.
I CERTAINLY ALSO WOULD SAY
THERE HAS FOSTER CARE HAS TO BE
FOR MORE PEOPLE THAN OUR THAT
ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGING IN IT.
THAT MORE PEOPLE SHOULD JUST
ENGAGED.
ENGAGED.
ENGAGED. IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO
ENGAGE WITH.
ENGAGE WITH. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU.
>>> I WAS MENTIONING BEFORE WE
STARTED DOING THE SHOW TODAY.
I HAVE LIVED IN A BUNCH OF
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. OVER TIME I'VE NEVER BEEN IN
ONE THAT SEEMED TO BE VERY
PROUD ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING
WITH THEIR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
THEY ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
IMPROVEMENT.
IMPROVEMENT. MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
ARE THERE ANY AREAS IN OTHER
PLACES OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
YOU HAVE LOOKED UP TO THAT YOU
THINK IS DOING IT RIGHT?
SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE
IMPLEMENTED HERE -- HAVE PEOPLE
REACHED OUT TO YOU?
>> BEING FOUND AS TOGETHER WE
GOT CONNECTED NOT THROUGH
FRIENDSHIP BEFORE.
FRIENDSHIP BEFORE. BUT BECAUSE THE FOSTER CARE.
ONE THING THAT WE FOUND IS
SAYING WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER.
AND NONPROFITS.
AND NONPROFITS. WE'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW OTHER
NONPROFITS LOCALLY THAT ARE
DEALING WITH KIDS IN FOSTER
CARE THAT ARE SMALL TO MEDIUM-
SIZE.
SIZE.
SIZE. INSTEAD OF DOING THINGS SILO
LOOKS WORK TOGETHER.
WE GET TOGETHER EVERY SIX
MONTHS.
MONTHS.
MONTHS. TALK ABOUT BEST PRACTICES.
WHAT IS WORKING WHAT IS NOT
WORKING.
WORKING.
WORKING. THESE ORGANIZATIONS WE ARE ALL
BETTER BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING
TOGETHER TO HELP OUR KIDS.
EVEN THOUGH KIDS MIGHT BE OVER
SIX NOW I KNOW THESE OTHER
GROUPS.
GROUPS.
GROUPS. ON WITH LOVE THE WEBSITE WE
HAVE A RESOURCE GUIDE THAT ALL
THE OTHER NONPROFITS USE.
THEY USE IT AS WELL.
THAT IDEA OF NOT WORKING BY
YOURSELF WORKING TOGETHER HAS
BEEN CRITICAL FOR WITH LOVE AND
EMBRACE IN THESE OTHER
NONPROFITS.
NONPROFITS. IN OREGON AS WELL.
WORKING TOGETHER HAS BEEN
CRITICAL FOR US.
>>> WHAT WAS THE MOST
INTIMIDATING THING GETTING
STARTED?
STARTED?
STARTED? I'M SURE THERE WAS A LONG LIST.
FOR MOST PARENTS ARE MOST
FAMILIES THERE IS A LONG LIST.
FOR YOU WHAT WAS IT?
>> HOW THIS WILL IMPACT MY
BIOLOGICAL KIDS.
BIOLOGICAL KIDS. I STARTED FOSTERING WHEN MY
YOUNGEST WAS 2 1/2.
WHAT YOU ARE BRINGING INTO YOUR
HOUSE A DRUG INFECTED AFFECTED
INFANT.
INFANT.
INFANT. THERE ARE LOT OF COMPLEX ISSUES.
A PIECE OF HOW AM I GOING TO
HANDLE THIS?
HANDLE THIS? AND ALSO THE TIME MANAGEMENT.
I WANT TO BE SO PRESENT FOR THE
KIDS THAT ARE BROUGHT INTO MY
HOUSE.
HOUSE.
HOUSE. I
HOUSE. I WANT THIS TO BE A LOVING
ENVIRONMENT.
ENVIRONMENT. HOW DO WE DO THAT?
I THINK MY PARENTS WHEN MY
FAMILY WERE WONDERING THE SAME
THING.>>> WHAT CAN YOU SAY
ABOUT THAT YEARS LATER?
>>> IT IS HEARTBREAKING.
I THINK THAT OUR FAMILY IS
BETTER BECAUSE OF IT.
I THINK OUR KIDS ARE SO WISE
AND STRONG AND RESILIENT.
I LOVE THEY WILL BE LIKE I
WONDER WHAT FOSTER CARE WILL
GET THAT NEXT.
THEY WILL SAY DO YOU REMEMBER
IT WAS SO-AND-SO BIRTHDAY
TODAY.
TODAY.
TODAY. THE KID HAS A BEEN WITH US.
SOMEONE SAYS HOW MANY KIDS AND
YOUR FAMILY?
YOUR FAMILY? THEY SAY WHAT DO YOU MEAN
BECAUSE THESE ARE MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS.
AND SISTERS. IT IS REALLY AN INTERESTING
PIECE ABOUT THAT.
FOSTER CARE IS IN THE NEWS
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. SESAME STREET HAS A NEW MOPPET
THAT IS IN FOSTER CARE.
THERE ARE MOVIES ABOUT IT NOW.
IT IS BECOMING MORE MAINSTREAM.
WHAT I LOVE IS WE GO TO THE
GROCERY STORE AND THEY ARE
TALKING ABOUT THEIR NEW LITTLE
BROTHER THEY JUST GOT.
IT HAS IMPACTED MY CHILDREN.
BREAKS THEIR HEART AND IT
BREAKS MY HEART WHEN THEY
LEAVE.
LEAVE.
LEAVE. THEY ARE MY BABIES WHEN THEY
ARE IN MY HOUSE.
EVEN THOUGH THEY LEAVE MY HOUSE
THEY ARE STILL MY KIDS IN SOME
WAY.
WAY.
WAY. BUT
WAY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME MY FAMILY
IS BETTER FOR IT.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS AMAZING.
THEY HAVE ALL RALLIED AROUND.
WE HAVE ANOTHER FOSTER FAMILY
FIVE HOUSE DOWN.
WE SHARED THE DUTIES TOGETHER.
WE HAVE BECOME FAMILIES
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER. IF WE WOULD HAVE SAID NO IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN A THEORY.
BUT NOW IT IS A REALITY.
IT IS REALITY FOR OUR CHURCH.
REALITY FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
AND FRIENDS.
AND FRIENDS. IT IS NOT AS SCARY.
THEY FALL IN LOVE WITH OUR KIDS
TOO.
TOO.
TOO. >>>
TOO. >>> ABSOLUTELY.
>>> ABSOLUTELY. I ABSOLUTELY WOULD.
THERE ARE SO MANY
CONSIDERATIONS.
CONSIDERATIONS. OFTEN TIMES IT IS CHALLENGING
IN FOSTER CARE BECAUSE THE GOAL
OF FOSTER CARE IS TO BE SHORED
AND TEMPORARY AND TO RETURN
KIDS TO THEIR BIOLOGICAL
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES.
FAMILIES. THAT IS THE GOAL OF FOSTER
CARE.
CARE.
CARE. WHEN A CHILD COMES INTO FOSTER
CARE REALLY THE PRIORITY SHOULD
NOT BE THEY WILL BE PLACE WITH
STRANGERS.
STRANGERS. THE HOPE WOULD BE THEY WILL BE
PLACE WITH RELATIVES OR SOMEONE
KNOWN TO THEM.
IT IS COMPLEX FROM THE
BEGINNING.
BEGINNING. TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO WELCOME
IN LOVE JUST THIS CHILD.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO BE
INTENTIONAL ABOUT CONNECTING
THEM BACK WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL
FAMILY.
FAMILY.
FAMILY. I
FAMILY. I THINK IN MANY CASES THE
FAMILIES THAT ARE STEPPING
FORWARD THROUGH EMBRACE EVERY
CHILD TO SAY WE WANT TO BE A
LOVING SUPPORT TO THAT
BIOLOGICAL FAMILY.
BIOLOGICAL FAMILY. A LOT OF BIOLOGICAL FAMILIES
GET INTO THE VERY PREDICAMENT
THAT LED TO THE CHILDREN
BECOMING CHILD WELFARE
INVOLVED.
INVOLVED.
INVOLVED. BECAUSE THEY WERE IN ISOLATION.
I REALLY VALUE HAVING THE
POSTURE OF WHEN IT IS SAFE AND
APPROPRIATE TO DO SO WHAT ARE
THE WAYS WE CAN COME ALONGSIDE
THIS FAMILY SO THAT HOPEFULLY
WHEN THEIR CHILD IS RETURNED TO
THEM WE CAN BE A SENSE OF LOVE
AND SUPPORT THEY DID NOT HAVE
BEFORE?
BEFORE?
BEFORE? TO KEEP THE CHILD OUT OF THE
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK WE WILL
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER
WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED.
WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN HELP
CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM. EVEN IF OPENING