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The power to do something positive
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If nothing changes in the United States between now and the year 2020:
- Nearly 11 million children confirmed cases of abuse and neglect will be reported;
- 18,000 children will die of abuse or neglect;
- 7.2 million children will experience the foster care system;
- 240,000 youth will age out of foster care with inadequate support, resources, family connections, skills or options to compete in the workforce and build successful lives.
But things can change. Children and youth in foster care are capable of overcoming the repercussions of previous neglect and/or abuse. Those aging out of the system can become successful, productive adults when provided with educational opportunities, career training and emotional support. With supports, most families can address the challenges which caused their children to be placed in foster care so that they can be safely reunited with parents or relatives.
Across the country, people just like you are:
- Raising their voices to educate federal and state public policy leaders on the issues facing children and families.
- Serving as foster parents, relative caregivers, mentors, advocates, social workers and volunteers.
- Sponsoring scholarships enabling foster youth to go to college and trade school, as well as professional internships to prepare them for the workplace.
- Encouraging their employees to volunteer their time as mentors, professional coaches, and role models for foster youth or young families with children in foster care.
- Donating gift cards, school supplies, household gifts and other items to brighten a young person’s life in foster care.
- Collaborating with foster care agencies to "adopt a social worker" and provide for the unique needs of families in need of services to reduce the time that children spend in foster care.
Thanks to people who care – foster parents or not -- many formerly neglected or abused children and teens will safely reunite with their parents, be cared for by relatives, be adopted by loving families and/or make a successful transition to independent living.
May is National Foster Care Month. Visit www.fostercaremonth.org to find out more about the many ways to get involved and make a lasting difference for America’s children.
Colorado communities are urgently seeking many more everyday people to come forward for our nation’s most vulnerable children so they may realize their full potential. No matter how much time you have to give, you have the power to do something positive that will change a lifetime for a young person in foster care.
Thinking about foster parenting? Learn about foster parent requirements and PRIDE classes. If you don't have time to be a foster parent, consider becoming a CASA.
Looking for online adoption support? Check out ForeverParents.com.
To receive Sally McComb's articles on foster care related topics weekly, click SUBSCRIBE above and type in your email address. Your email will not be shared with anyone else.
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