Last year I wrote an article for the Huffington Post about an important piece of legislation for foster children that is now law. The response to the article made it clear that Huffington Post readers connect to issues surrounding foster youth.
It got me to thinking... can you imagine how connected readers would be if they actually saw the kids?
Today I am thrilled to introduce a regular feature, a series of films profiling children in foster care who are available for adoption.
There are over 114,000 of these kids in the U.S. today.
There are many potential parents in our communities, but sadly, these children remain mostly invisible to them. The Children's Action Network, working with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, has been producing films of these children, mostly the older ones, ages 8 to 18, who are the most invisible of all.
Misconceptions about foster children abound... that they are damaged or dangerous or in some way different than other kids. None of this is true. These are simply children, who through no fault of their own, have been victims of abuse and neglect, and for their own protection have grown up in a system instead of a family. They are bright and funny and charming and deserve to have someone applauding them at their graduation, and someone to walk them down the aisle at their wedding. I believe there is a permanent home and loving parents out there for every one of them.
We produce a new film every few weeks so you will have the opportunity through this series to meet every kind of kid you can imagine. You will find they are unique and loving and athletic and artistic and full of promise... and they all share one thing... they need an adoptive family.
You can learn more about the children and find more information about foster care at ChildrensActionNetwork.org or by calling 1-800-525-6789
Today please meet Brandon.
Brandon is 14. He's charming and confident, and can have a conversation with just about anyone. He likes sports, especially football and basketball. His favorite music is hip-hop. Brandon is the kind of kid who hates sitting around. He'd much rather be playing sports or working, making his own money. He's an adventurous kid who likes trying new things and having new experiences.
Daniel Heimpel: The Future of Foster Care: Are We Too Cheap to Keep Children Safe?
Katharine Quarmby: Transracial Adoption: Is Love Enough?
If only this were true. Far to many of them come with PTSD from abuse (physical, mental and sexual) and with Reactive Attachment Disorder (look it up). They can be wonderful kids in the foster system because as a part of the system they have learned to survive and cope. But deep inside there are powerful issues that can create major problems when they are adopted for the adopting parents. If you want to adopt a child out of the foster care system first read; http://forums.adoption.com/special-needs-adoption/384902-what-do-you-wish-you-knew-back-then.html
Then go to; http://www.youtube.com/user/christinemoers#p/u/22/CKFnmQ2DpB4
And then read and read and talk to others and if you still want to do it, have a friend you can call to come sit and hold you well you cry. And if you make it work, it is great to help a child. Far to many foster children age out of the system and never learn to be normal human beings. But it takes a lot to help them. And the author of this article needs to spend time with experts who deal with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) because far to many foster kids got it in their pre-verbal, infant lives.
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Brandon. You're a VERY special young man, and I hope and pray that before long your forever family will find you.
And thank you for doing this, Rhea; you're the best, and we've missed you.
There is a great need to draw attention to the 1 million children per year that are reported to child protection services.
As a long time volunteer guardian ad-Litem working with abused and neglected children I now write and speak on this neglected topic.
With state and local government programs suffering and non profits unable to keep up with the growing problems our poorer citizens are facing, there is more child abuse and a greater need for attention to at risk children.
Growing up as an abused child is hard enough. Let's not abandoned these children again.
Vote for child friendly programs and speak out.
Helping troubled children become productive members of our society helps our schools perform better (abused children need help to succeed in the classroom) , makes our communities safer (less crime) and it is the right thing to do.
www.invisiblechildren.org
My partner and I have discussed doing foster care or adopting a few times. We have a lot of questions about it, and a lot of concerns. We are slowly working through those.
It might not seem "fair" for us to keep kids waiting while we deal with our issues, but we also don't want to harm a kid with our problems, either.
If I wasn't single I'd adopt him myself. Brandon, if you're listening, look at the movie The
Blindside. The Toohey's took him in and look at where he is now. Maybe if they read about you they'll take you! Somebody take this kid to a basketball or football game please! There's got to be someone out there who has the resources and love to take this kid in. He's artisitc, he needs nurturing. Brandon, study hard, work hard and you'll go far. If noone takes you just know you'll have you're own family one day.. Don't give up!!!....SOMEBODY PLEASE RESCUE THIS BEAUTIFUL CHILD!!!
Way to go Rhea....right to the heart.