| African-American children are twice as likely to enter | | | | years. What will happen to these children, who will |
| foster care then White children-despite equal rates of | | | | take care of them? Can anything be done to stop |
| abuse and neglect for children of all races-according | | | | this epidemic in developing countries? |
| to a significant new report released from the federal | | | | What is the solution? How can we improve the lives |
| Government Accountability Office. | | | | of families internationally if we can't even provide |
| Like most people, I am not in the best position | | | | protection for our own children here in the United |
| financially to adopt children, take in foster children or | | | | States, the greatest nation on earth? The strength |
| give money, yet I can spread the message. The | | | | of a nation lies in the homes and families of its |
| message is that nationally and globally there are | | | | communities. |
| children that need our support. Surveys have | | | | If you desire to have children would you consider |
| revealed that 4 in 10 American adults have | | | | adoption if you were financially able to? Is there a |
| considered adoption for their own families. | | | | room in your heart and home for a foster child? If |
| Children who are orphaned by losing one or both | | | | you love children, would you consider adoption? |
| parents end up in Foster care and are the most | | | | There are several levels of adoption; |
| vulnerable citizens among us. When a child suffers, | | | | A Public adoption is when a child in the public child |
| we are taking away the potential of that particular | | | | welfare system is placed in permanent homes by |
| child to make a significant contribution to the world. | | | | public, government-operated agencies, or by private |
| Children of color make up more than half of the total | | | | agencies contracted by a public agency to place |
| number of children in foster care. When a Black child | | | | waiting children. |
| gets in the system of foster care, adoption is not | | | | A Private adoption is when a child is placed in |
| likely due to economic struggles within the Black | | | | non-relative homes through the services of a |
| community. Families in the Black community can adopt | | | | non-profit or for-profit agency which may be licensed |
| and they do, unfortunately not at the rate that | | | | by the State in which it operates. |
| children of color are entering the system. | | | | A Kinship adoption is when a child is placed in |
| There are agencies and organizations working on | | | | relatives' home with or without the services of a |
| behalf of foster children to provide care while | | | | public agency. |
| adequate families are screened and evaluated. It is | | | | A Stepparent adoption is when a child is adopted by |
| possible to volunteer with children in foster care and | | | | the spouse of one birth parent. |
| the screening of anyone that desires to work with | | | | A Transracial adoption is when a child is placed with |
| children has to be thorough. Children cannot advocate | | | | an adoptive family of another race. |
| for themselves and must be protected from neglect | | | | An Inter-country or International adoption is when a |
| and the predatory behavior of adults. | | | | child who is a citizen of a foreign nation is adopted by |
| CASA is a national organization and stands for Court | | | | U.S. families and brought to the United States. |
| Appointed Special Advocates. CASA trains individuals | | | | There are tax credits, subsidies, employer benefits, |
| to volunteer with foster children through the court | | | | education benefits, reimbursements for children with |
| system to assist children before they become | | | | special and even adoption loans available to assist |
| permanent wards of the state. In some cases | | | | families with the care of children that they take in. |
| children have already been in foster care four to five | | | | Increased use of drugs and alcohol lead to higher |
| months before there is an assignment of a CASA | | | | numbers of children being exposed to is a primary |
| volunteer. Becoming a volunteer can substantially | | | | factor in the increase number of children needing |
| reduce the time a child spends in long-term foster | | | | placement. More now than ever grandparents are |
| care. | | | | raising grandchildren due to the damage of drug and |
| Not every child is adopted or gets the opportunity to | | | | alcohol on the family unit. |
| live with a family even temporarily. Unfortunately, in | | | | The reality is the test of character and commitment |
| some cases, the families that take in foster children | | | | to children that need families. What would you do if |
| are not good providers and children end up in worst | | | | something happened to you? Who would care for |
| situations than being in a foster care institution. | | | | your children? Would they end up in foster care? |
| Not only are children of color disproportionately | | | | Kinship or extended families are not readily available |
| represented in the United States but globally 143 | | | | to take in the children of families members when |
| million children in developing countries have lost one or | | | | they are not in a stable environment themselves or |
| both parents. It is estimated that the HIV/AIDS | | | | cannot adequately provide quality care of their own |
| epidemic will orphan 20 million children in the next two | | | | children. |