The biggest topic in the news right now is the large number of children arriving in Texas from Central America. Here is a link to a general article:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/18821-some-illegal-immigrant-foster-children-are-22-years-old
What is interesting to me about this one is the short news item above the immigration article that discusses the fact that there are some immigrant children who have long been placed in the Texas Foster Care System and can reach up to the age of 22! I am glad that Texas has found homes for many of these children but I am puzzled as to how they have done it. Here in Michigan, finding foster parents is a full time job. Obviously this problem has been growing quietly for several years down in Texas.
I really love the personal stories that former foster youth share and here is a link to one I found on Facebook:
https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/opinion/my-journey-in-foster-care-the-second-most-devastating-day-of-my-young-life/7486
Warning! This one ends in a cliff hanger. But what I like about this story is the many sides of foster care that it showcases. Her story touches on loving foster parents, the importance of keeping siblings in contact and together, and her own emotions. It is so hard to read the emotions in the minds of young children who are placed in our homes. It causes me to wonder what thoughts would be written by the children who have left my home. I hope more than anything that they know how much they were loved.
Of course there is always a story about the tragic death of child. I don't mean to gloss over this with humor in anyway. I can't help but read things like this even though I know that it will just torture me. Every time I read about the death of foster child my mind just screams why, why why!!! There is an Eiffel tower size pile of rules and regulations designed to keep children safe. Yet these incidents keep happening. I include this article to encourage anyone who has ever considered becoming a foster parent to sign up. Michigan needs loving, intelligent, and thoughtful people to help care for all of these children. Here is the link:
http://ksn.com/2014/07/28/foster-care-system-responds-to-foster-care-child-death/
I would like to end on a positive note because the business of helping children is a joyful one. I really enjoy following Dr. John DeGarmo on Facebook. He has written several books about foster parenting that focus on the basics. I have not read all of them but I enjoyed, "The Foster Parenting Manual: A practical guide to creating a loving, safe, and stable home." I root for anyone who is practical and down to earth in the world of foster care. This wonderful picture is from his Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/DrJohnDeGarmo
Dr. John DeGarmo says, "What you are doing IS important! What you are doing DOES matter! Thank you for doing the little, and big, things for children in foster care. Share if you agree!"
