"A historic number...record increase...startling phenomenon." These were some of the words that accompanied recent news articles about increases in the number of Hispanic children in foster care in the United States. The increases are real.
For some children, the uncertainty of life on the street is better than certainty of violence at home. It was for me. At age 14, I escaped from an abusive home with no money, nowhere to go and only the clothes I was wearing.
States should take the important step of adopting the option to provide coverage for former foster youth from other states (if final rules maintain this as an option), as this is an extremely mobile population.
Mother's Day has come and gone, but we think the efforts of one mom in particular still need to be applauded. Joyce Dumont, a 77-year-old North Dakota...
At 28 years old each, Eric and Mindy Shamp are already well on their way to building a big loving family. In the past year-and-a-half, they have welcomed 11 children into their home.
Please, please, on this very special day think before you speak. Not being a mom, not having a mom can evoke a profound sense of sadness on Mother's Day for those of us who have lost, have never had, or are struggling to be a mom.
We also should address another vital question, one on which most people of every political and religious stripe presumably would agree: Shouldn't our nation's laws, policies and practices serve "the best interests of the child?"
The lawsuit, filed by the New York-based Children's Rights, charges that Massachusetts has one of the nation's highest rates of abuse of foster children in the country.
Limiting the ability of up to 2 million additional prospective parents to provide homes to waiting children does nothing to help kids in foster care. And if we actively recruited LGBT people nationwide to serve as foster and adoptive parents, we could possibly solve the foster care crisis.
I don't know if I could have made a difference -- but I'll never stop being sorry I didn't bring him home.
This morning while I was running, my thoughts drifted back to Mother's Day 2003. It should have been my first Mother's Day, but life had been unkind, and instead I was clawing my way back from losing the baby.
Too many youth in foster care spend their 21st birthday packing their bags, finding a place to live and figuring out how they are going to pay the rent and put food in the fridge.
In one of the rooms in our new Reading Center we're showcasing inspirational and motivational quotes in a mural. As I read the quotes I realize the words are as much for me as they are for the teens. Maybe you'll agree -- we'd be moving mountains much faster if we all believed these words...
As a parent of a 17 and 20 year old, I understand the balancing act of parenting teens. We still operate under those protective instincts we had when...
Imagine going back daily to a place where you are a failure. There, others move forward with their achievements lauded, while your self-esteem sinks, ...
Sadly, many people have a preconceived idea that kids are abandoned because something is wrong with them. A common response to meeting children in foster care is, "They are so sweet! How could anyone abandon them?'
A historic number of Hispanic children are in the country’s foster care system, a dramatic change brought on by immigration and the assimilation of ...
When we sat down to discuss her latest venture Sheila Jaffe told me, "Casting is my job, but Felix is my passion." The Felix Organization, a charity which she co-founded with Darryl (DMC) McDaniels of RUN/DMC helps to "enhance the lives" of children in the foster care system.
Our Literacy Program's goal is focused on lifelong learning and upon making a positive impact on the growth of our student readers. To this end we're making plans to fill our space with thousands of children pre-K through teenagers.
Some surprises are so good, they're still incredibly moving months -- or even years -- later. This is one of them. The clip above, which shows an 1...
Young people are told that the sky is the limit, but not everyone has the same opportunities. Some youth have to overcome the trauma of neglect. Some have had physical, sexual and emotional abuse. There's a major contradiction for children in this society, and as a foster care alumnus, I know it all too well.
I will always be the King of Rock, but I only got there because of the people who believed in me. Each and every day that I have the privilege of spending with these children is inspiring. I see a piece of myself in all of them.
National Foster Care Month should remind us that there are still young souls that need direction and help at the most delicate and impressionable moments of their lives.
There are five little names on a chain around my neck. Three of those names belong to the babies I bore biologically, and two of those little names are babies I got to raise for a short time and then let them go.
Feeling connected to the children we serve is so important to all of us. In every box of pajamas and books we send to group homes and shelters we include a sheet called Pajama Program's Kids Blog sheet.
