>>> OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY
ARE DEALING WITH A CRISIS.
OPIOID ADDICTION IS SKY
ROCKETING AND TAKER APART
FAMILYING.
>> WHEN PARENTS CAN'T CARE FOR
CHILDREN OFTEN THE STATE STEPS.
BUT THEN WHAT.
A SOLUTION THAT'S INCREASINGLY
IN SHORT SUPPLY.
>> LITTLE BABY JAY IS THE FIFTH
CHILD ES ELIZABETH HAS CARED FOR
IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
>> I'VE HAD HIM FOR A FEW MONTHS
NOW.
>> SHE'S 34, SINGLE, AND WORKS
FULL-TIME.
SHE SURPRISED MANY WHEN SHE
SIGNED UP TO FOSTER CHILDREN.
>> I THOUGHT SHE WAS CRAZY.
I REALLY DIDN'T THINK SHE HAD A
HANDLE ON WHAT ALL WAS INVOLVED.
>> HI!
>> NO ONLY IS SHE LEARNING TO
SINGLE PARENT, BUT SHE'S ALSO
LEARNING WHAT HAPPENS TO
CHILDREN LIKE BABY JAY WHEN A
PARENT USES DRUGS.
>> HIS FAMILY IS STORY THAT IS
VERY COMMON.
DRUG USE AND CYCLE OF A I
DICTION.
IT'S -- CYCLE OF ADDICTION.
THE TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF
ADDICTION.
EVEN KNOWING THEIR CHIERLD IS
WITH THEM BUT THEY CAN'T BREAK
THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION.
>> BABY JAY, LIKE THOUSANDS OF
OTHER INDIANA NEWBORNS WAS BORCH
DRUG DEPENDENT.
THERE ARE NEARLY TWICE AS MANY
CHILDREN IN THE SYSTEM AS THE
NUMBER OF FOSTER HOME AVAILABLE.
>> THE NEED IS GREAT.
>> THEY'RE TRYING TO MANAGE BUT
THE GAP IS WIDENING.
>> A NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT I
THINK THE BIGGEST ONE IS NO
SECRET.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS WAY UP,
ESPECIALLY OPIOIDS.
>> IT MATCHES THE POPULATION
AREAS.
AND EVERY COMMUNITY IS IMPACTED.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> THE KIDS DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE
TO GO.
>> ELIZABETH SAID ONCE SHE
LEARNED OF THE NEED SHE DECIDED
TO DO SOMETHING.
IT TOOK HER ABOUT FOUR MONTHS TO
GET QUALIFIED.
>> YOU LEARN ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF
CHILDREN YOU MIGHT HAVE.
YOU LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUES
FACING THE CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE
GOING THROUGH.
YOU HAVE TO BECOME CPR CERTIFY
INVOLVED.
>> OVER 21.
YOU CAN BE SINGLE.
YOU CAN BE MARRIED.
COHABITATEING, AND NO CRIMINAL
PAST.
>> ELIZABETH GOT HER LICENSE,
AND HER PHONE KEEPS RINGING.
SOMETIMES SHE'S TAKEN TWO
CHILDREN AT ONCE.
>> BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SAY
NO.
THEY CALL BECAUSE THERE'S A
SHORTAGE OF FOSTER PARENTS.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'LL BE
BEFORE THEY FIND A PLACE FOR
THAT CHILD.
>> A SAFE HOME WITH THEIR
SIBLINGS AND IN THE VERY SAME
COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN CONTINUE
WITH THEIR SCHOOL WORK.
BUT THE SITUATION IS SO DIRE
THAT THE STATE IS NOW ACTIVELY
ASKING FOR HELP.
>> YOU GRANT THE SERVICE GROUPS
AND GOING OUT TO CHURCHES AND
SAYING WE HAVE A NEED?
>> WE HAVE A GREAT NEED FOR MORE
FOSTER HOMES.
WE KNOW HOOSIERS STEP UP.
>> AND WHEN THEY DO, A
GENERATION OF INDIANA'S
CHILDREN, LIKE BABY JAY, HAVE A
BETTER SHOT OF REACHING THEIR
POTENTIAL.
>> IMPROVEMENT IN THE CHILD IS
JUST AMAZING TO SEE.
THE WEIGHT GAIN.
THE MENTAL ABILITIES THAT HE HAS
DONE.
HE IS A HAPPY BABY.
HE IS JUST
OTHERWISE PERFECTLY NORMAL
CHILD.
>> I LOVE THEM AS HARD AS I CAN.
EVERY TIME IT'S HARD.
I SOB AND I CRY MY EYES OUT.
AND IT'S AWFUL.
BUT YOU DID A GOOD THING.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SIGNED UP
FOR.
>> IT DOES TEAR ON HER HEART.
AND SOME PEOPLE DO TRY FOSTERING
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO EXPLORE
ADOPTION.
BUT OTHERS, LIKE EMPTY NESTERS,
A PRIME TARGET FOR THE STATE OF
INDIANA.
THEY WOULD LOVE EMPTY NESTERS TO
SIGN UP.
THEY'RE EXPERIENCED PARENTS,
SOMEWHERE THE SPACE, AND MANY
TIMES THEY HAVE THE TIME TO
GIVE.