Goliath comes in many forms~
It is time to stop the devastation to innocent families which is occurring daily across the country.
My Family Rights Affiliation

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Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Fight child hunger in AMERICA with Scarlett Johansson

Many in our fine nation called AMERICA, don't realize that 1 in 5 go hungry every day.
Especially Our Children, Our Future.

Granpa Chuck
Read More
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feeding America
Help keep kids healthy and happy all summer long. Please give today.
Dear Friend,
Summertime can be uncertain for the 16 million children facing hunger in America. When school lets out for summer millions of these children no longer have easy access to healthy food through the free or reduced–price school lunch program, making every day a challenge.
Actor Scarlett Johansson is all too familiar with this growing issue.
“My family grew up relying on public assistance to help provide meals to our family. Child hunger in America is a real and often overlooked problem, but one that together, we can fix.”
Watch Scarlett's video message about fighting child hunger and give a generous donation today.
Your support can help keep kids healthy and happy all summer long, ensuring they get the meals they need to thrive when school is out.
Every $1 you give can help secure and distribute 10 meals through the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks. Don’t wait — please make a gift today.
Sincerely,


Johanna Vetter
Chief Brand and Development Officer
Feeding America

P.S. Watch Scarlett's video and hear why fighting child hunger is important to her and support the millions of children facing hunger this summer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~May you find Strength in Your Higher Power,
Granpa Chuck
Keeper of the web files for http://nfpcar.org
~~~~~~~~~~




 
  • National Coordinator of the Family Survey Program
    When One Deals with the Child Protective AGENCY
    >>;LearnMor

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Sweet Silver Lining: View from One in Foster Care


This is Children’s Rights’ “Fostering the Future” Series.
Key to this effort is>>>>  


"
Children should have a voice about whether or not
they want connections with biological family.
When parents lose their rights, grandparents, siblings,
aunts
and uncles shouldn’t lose their rights along with them.
Why should we be victimized?"

So read about yet another of one in Foster Care
This particular story is of one who was in Foster Care; "aged out", but remained with her Foster Family, even though the monetary incentives ($$$) ended. Noting, each concern is as unique as the individuals involved>>
Posted: 16 May 2015 04:13 AM PDT
Diane photo largeThe first ten years of my life were like riding a roller coaster with a blindfold on, not knowing when the next tragic event was going to take place. 

Growing up I didn’t always have the best luck. I was not dealt a royal flush. I was raised by a single mother along with my five siblings. My mother, on and off of welfare, employed and unemployed, did her best with the help of my grandmother and other family members. Still, when I was a child she meted out emotional, verbal and corporal abuse. I never thought anything of it because all my siblings were going through the same thing — I thought that was the life I was given.

I was sexually abused for the first time at age 4. The drug use of my mother, the molestation by her boyfriend, and worst of all, the betrayal when she didn’t stop it from happening, were devastating. 

At this young age I didn’t understand, I was scared, and I felt alone. My life began to unravel. The assaults continued nightly. I hoped, wished, prayed that they would stop.
When I was placed into the care of the court, I didn’t even understand what it meant. I later knew that I was in foster care, a ward of the county. I was placed into the home of Tiffany, who later became Mom. I remained in her care for eight years. Hers was my only foster home. Never having to relocate was the best thing I could ask for. 

While in my biological mother’s care I changed schools and homes at least twice annually. I never had the opportunity to finish a full year with my friends. Moving to a new home or school was the worst. When I was placed with Tiffany I asked her to do her best to keep me in the same school as long as possible. She did.
She is my angel. My mom, a real mom. She is the best at telling me the truth and guiding me the right way. When I tell my mother something she always responds with, “I love you no matter what. I’m going to tell you what I think and you can decide after that.” She is family-oriented, always putting her own goals on hold to help others achieve theirs. She is always there for me. She is also young. Growing up with a mother figure only nine years older meant I couldn’t be sneaky, so I told her just about everything! As I got older we developed a close bond.

When I was 18 my mom explained to me that I was no longer a ward of the court. I didn’t receive aid from the government, I didn’t have medical coverage. But after aging out of the system I remained with my family. My mom, dad and younger siblings continue to be a part of my life even though I am considered an adult. This doesn’t always happen with kids in foster care.

I’m not angry anymore for being placed into the system, because it forced me to be a better, stronger woman. When I went into care I felt alone a lot of the time. I never felt like I belonged to the family that I was part of. I was always afraid that I was going to be sent back to my biological mother. But over the years my foster family took care of me like I was their own, and it became clear that I was theirs forever. I love them.

God didn’t give me society’s view of a good life, but he didn’t give me more than I could handle either. I’ve stood strong in my values, my morals and my faith. I fight for my own happiness. I fight to see the humanity that is left in the world. As a foster kid I had a difficult time trusting others, but who can blame me? After a while I began to open up and let people in my life. I had to stop re-reading a chapter in my book and start writing my next chapter.

Life is what you make it. You survive — even if you’re alone, keep fighting.
I promise you one day someone will care.
We weren’t dealt the best hand,
but if we work hard enough we can earn our own.

Published on May 16, 2015 as part of Children’s Rights’ “Fostering the Future” campaign. The opinions expressed herein are those of the blog author and do not necessarily represent the views of Children’s Rights or its employees. Children’s Rights has not verified the author’s account.
The post Sweet Silver Lining appeared first on Children's Rights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  • States’ Child Protective AGENCY’s FAIL in Many Performance TESTS

If your child Failed in school, wouldn’t you be concerned?
Below are two major tests, one might say, the Child Protective AGENCY takes.. And, heck not even every year. There are 2 major Groups, with 7 items in each. The two Major Groups are:

  • Outcomes;
  • Systemic Factors
>>>>> Read More
~~~~~~~~~~


 
  • National Coordinator of the Family Survey Program
    When One Deals with the Child Protective AGENCY
    >>;LearnMor

Saturday, May 16, 2015

A Runaway Kid’s Story: View from One in Foster Care

http://www.childrensrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/David-Daniel-largeUPDATE.jpg
This is Children’s Rights’ “Fostering the Future” Series.
Key to this effort is>>>>  


"
Children should have a voice about whether or not
they want connections with biological family.
When parents lose their rights, grandparents, siblings,
aunts
and uncles shouldn’t lose their rights along with them.
Why should we be victimized?"

So read about yet another of one in Foster Care
Posted: 15 May 2015 06:38 AM PDT
I am a former foster youth from Houston; I spent years in state care. My story is like many others, but with a little twist. I was born a “drug baby” and was placed into child protective services (CPS) immediately upon my arrival into this world. My parents were drug addicts, and my father abused me and my mother.

Rewind, right? I know you’re wondering how I was abused and witnessed my parents doing drugs if I was in foster care from birth. Well, when I was 5 years old I was returned home. My mother was drug-free, or so everyone thought. For years after, my father abused me and my mother neglected me. Sometimes I went days without bathing. I would miss school because of the bruises on my body. I was terrified of my father, and tired of being in crack houses with my mother.

At the age of 11, I ran away from home while going to check the mail. I went to the police department, but they assumed I was a troubled teen, so they sent me back home, where my father beat me. My saving grace didn’t come until the next day at school, when a caseworker pulled me out of class to investigate my abuse and neglect.

On December 7, 2000, I went back into foster care. I might as well have stayed at home. For the next few years I lived in a series of violent foster homes. In some my foster parents abused me. They took my clothing voucher for their biological kids, who were allowed to physically assault and belittle the foster kids. The ultimate manipulators, my last set of foster parents made me think that if I was ever to reveal what was going on, no one would believe me. I would just be labeled “troubled” and sent to a group home.

It’s kind of what happened.

When I complained, my journey from group home to group home began. I was treated like a “throwaway kid” – a burden and prisoner. There was no privacy. The staff were only there to collect a check. In one home, they would restrain us aggressively whenever they got mad and wanted to demonstrate their power. Once it was so bad that I went to the doctor with pulled ligaments in my back.

I developed this chip on my shoulder. I was overwhelmed by constant stereotyping, not seeing my family, psychological evaluations and heavy medication. I was angry – I didn’t ask to be in foster care and I surely didn’t choose this life I was given.

I ran away from that home; there were so many things wrong with it that I would not have survived if I had stayed.

At 15 I decided that if I wanted any chance at life, love and success, I would have to leave foster care. I went to live with my mom (my parents had divorced by then), but her welcome was anything but warm. My mother complained that she didn’t want me in her house. When we disagreed, she always wanted to put her hands on me to make a point. Yet when I moved out to go stay with a cousin, my mother made such a fuss that I went back home. And on my prom night my father came over, started drinking and tried to fight me.

For the next few years I bounced between family members’ homes until I left to attend college. I didn’t know that running away at 15 would keep me from receiving financial assistance. CPS said they wouldn’t help me because I was not in the system on my 18th birthday – never mind that I spent years in the system.

I’ve spent many nights sleepless and crying, and was suicidal for a few of them. But I pushed through. I applied for the Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund, which required me to write an essay about the obstacles I had overcome in my life. I had too many to choose from. That scholarship alone not only saved my life, but also changed my perspective on life.

Now, in 2015, I’m a graduate of Prairie View A&M University, where I earned my B.A. in Communications Studies. I’m currently pursuing a Masters in Counseling, and I’m the Communication Specialist for a non-profit organization. In my free time I advocate whole-heartedly for youth in foster care. I speak at agencies, churches, galas and to state workers, raising awareness about the system.

I’m not perfect. I’ve done many things that I’m not proud of, like drugs, skipping school and fighting. But I never stopped striving to be better. And I have learned that sometimes you have to heal yourself and forgive the unforgivable to reach your happiness. I can’t count the number of apologizes I didn’t receive. I can’t tell you how many times I was told I would never amount to anything and would end up like my parents. Fall, my brothers and sisters, but don’t you dare GIVE UP! You will see that life gets greater later.

Published on May 15, 2015 as part of Children’s Rights’ “Fostering the Future” campaign. The opinions expressed herein are those of the blog author and do not necessarily represent the views of Children’s Rights or its employees. Children’s Rights has not verified the author’s account.
The post The Race of My Life: A Runaway Kid’s Story appeared first on Children's Rights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  • States’ Child Protective AGENCY’s FAIL in Many Performance TESTS

If your child Failed in school, wouldn’t you be concerned?
Below are two major tests, one might say, the Child Protective AGENCY takes.. And, heck not even every year. There are 2 major Groups, with 7 items in each. The two Major Groups are:

  • Outcomes;
  • Systemic Factors
>>>>> Read More
~~~~~~~~~~


 
  • National Coordinator of the Family Survey Program
    When One Deals with the Child Protective AGENCY
    >>;LearnMor

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Removing Parents from Public Schools: NO ACCIDENT



 
"What we are witnessing is the rise of an ideology, a statist mindset that actually believes that “expert” agents of the state can make better decisions for your child than you can..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read full article below from Parental Rights Organization, published December 16, 2014
Removing Parents from Public Schools
It is no accident, no coincidence. And it’s not just your imagination. There really is a steady trend by the government and the courts to remove the influence of parents from the public schools.

I’m not saying your child’s teacher or principal, or even your local school board, is out to get you. Nor am I suggesting some giant system-wide conspiracy, where some shadow organization is secretly working through all different channels to rob you of your rights.

  • It is something bigger and more dangerous than that.
What we are witnessing is the rise of an ideology, a statist mindset that actually believes that “expert” agents of the state can make better decisions for your child than you can.

In 1979 the Supreme Court held, “The statist notion that governmental power should supersede parental authority in all cases because some parents abuse and neglect children is repugnant to American tradition.” Parham v. J.R., 442 U.S. 584 (1979), at 603. Unfortunately, a growing, powerful minority no longer find that idea repugnant today.

Instead, they argue that because not all parents are experts in education, parents should not be trusted with educational decisions for their child. Education is far too important; it must be kept in the hands of the experts.

This trend is seen in court cases such as Fields v. Palmdale (2005),which held that parents have no say in what, when, or how their children are taught about controversial subjects in the public schools; and Parker v. Hurley (2007), which held that parents have no right to opt their children out of objectionable material, even if it does not involve a core curricular subject.

It is also seen in legislative action, such as Congress's 2009 defunding of a voucher program in D.C. that allowed low income families to make school choices for their children. And that perfectly parallels a lawsuit brought in 2013 by the federal government against the state of Louisiana in an attempt to end a similar educational choice program in that state.

For those of you keeping score, our list now covers all three branches of the federal government: the judiciary, the legislative, and the executive.

Perhaps the greatest example of this intrusive statist mindset, however, has been the push to adopt the Common Core State Standards. Conceived by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and fleshed out by trade unions in D.C., the Common Core includes "curriculum standards" that all states must adopt in order to be eligible for federal "Race to the Top" education dollars.

Under Common Core, local school districts and even state departments of education are losing authority over education decisions to a smaller and more centralized group of "experts" who are further away from and less accountable to the real experts: the parents and local school teachers who know those children and work to meet their needs every day.

  • Common Core is also coupled with a scheme to create a national database of American students. Proponents claim it will allow educators to tailor curriculum to the individual student's needs, but critics see it as a ploy to help big businesses exploit student data for advertising revenue.
Fortunately, parents have started to push back. Several states that adopted the Common Core have since reversed that decision; five states declined to adopt it in the first place. And other states where Common Core was implemented this school year are still seeing parents and lawmakers pushing to retake control of education from the centralized federal powers behind this program.

The ultimate way to push back, of course, will come in 2015 with our newly concerted effort to push the Parental Rights Amendment through the U.S. Congress. This Amendment to the Constitution will secure the "fundamental right" of parents "to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children," including "the right to choose public, private, religious, or home schools, and the right to make reasonable choices within public schools for one’s child."

If you have friends or family members, with children in the public schools, who are concerned about Common Core or about the loss of their ability to influence the culture in their child's educational surroundings, be sure to let them know about the PRA. It will not let one family dictate the curriculum for an entire school, but it will allow parents to make choices for their own child, such as the choices that Fields and Parker took away.

  • Your tax dollars pay for the public schools. Yet elitist bureaucrats are making them unsafe for parental rights while pushing their own statist worldview. And anywhere unsafe for parents is unsafe for children.
Working together, we can reverse this trend and restore the rights of parents in the education of their children.

Sincerely,

Michael Ramey
Director of Communications & Research


Original Link: http://www.parentalrights.org/index.asp?SEC={41DCF3A6-4918-4686-986D-6FAE457F575A}

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Our FUTURE.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Watch for other information from the
"National Family Advocacy Team"

View the Power of Team


As a TEAM, we have No Leaders, just
Dedicated & Innovative Team Members.
Our first National/State Project>> Parent/Family Survey>> Check it Out
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 May you find Strength in Your Higher Power,
Keeper of the web files for http://nfpcar.org

Monday, May 11, 2015

May 11th, is the FIRST day for Nationally Family Month

Celebrate National Family Month
  • Sharing, Caring, & Guidance are essential Abuse awareness is good, but preventing abuse by a Strong Family is PRICELESS 
  • National Family Month is celebrated for a five week period between Mother's Day to Father's Day. This is a good time to reflect on your family and how to make it stronger.
  •  
Kids Peace
The celebration was created by KidsPeace to raise awareness and underscore the importance of family
 – kids, mothers, fathers, relatives and caregivers
and to encourage supporting one another.
Child-development experts have described "family" as
"someone who has a strong emotional attachment to another."
National Family Month provides an opportunity for families to share special time together, to develop or renew relationships, identify or rediscover needs and to remind everyone of the importance of family involvement in raising healthy, confident kids for America's future.


~~~~~~~~~~


 
  • National Coordinator of the Family Survey Program
    When One Deals with the Child Protective AGENCY
    >>;LearnMore

A Rebel with a Cause: View from One in Foster Care

This is Children’s Rights’ “Fostering the Future” Series.
Key to this effort is:   
Children should have a voice about
whether or not they want connections with biological family.
When parents lose their rights, grandparents, siblings, aunts
and uncles shouldn’t lose their rights along with them.
Why should we be victimized?"
So read about yet another of one in Foster Care:

Posted: 10 May 2015 05:30 AM PDT
Kim Larson largeI vividly remember the day that I went to live with my foster parents, and the shame and guilt I felt as we stood in their garage and went through my clothes. My foster mother held them up in the light, and her jaw dropped at the rips and holes. She clicked her tongue and said, “These obviously have to go in the trash. 

We’ll get you some new ones.”

I know she didn’t mean anything by it, but apart from bad memories of my childhood, the stained shirts, ripped sports bras and dirty pants were all I had. I was 15.

I had experienced years of social service calls, name calling, drunken fist fights and chronic episodes of homelessness, but it wasn’t until I got hung up on some misdemeanor marijuana charges that the state opened a child protection case. As many teens in chaotic households do, I acted out the only behaviors I knew. Drinking, using, fighting, giving up in school. Every drink I took, every fist I threw, was because I didn’t know what else to do.

There are no words to describe the feelings I carried around as a traumatized child. I heard a lot of, 
  • “You do this, you did that, go to school …” 
  • Nobody ever told me, “You’re beautiful, you are strong, you can do whatever you set your mind to.” 
I had to find that out for myself.

I spent quite a few months in a home for adolescents with substance abuse problems, with a family that was nothing short of amazing. They gave me my first glimpse of what a healthy family looked like, from 6 o’clock supper to hockey games on the weekends.

Then I moved into a therapeutic foster home, designed for children needing higher level care than a traditional foster home. My foster parents were kind, consistent and caring, and for a while I thrived. But I had no experience with that kind of stability. I started feeling like a caged bird. Going from having no rules or expectations to being in a healthy, stable home was too much for me. I started to get into trouble again, and eventually decided to run away and live on my own. When I found out I was pregnant at 19, I had to draw on my brief experiences in a safe and nurturing environment.

From the day that I learned I was to be a mother, I thought of nothing else but giving my child more than I had. By the time my son was born, I had my GED, and I started college shortly after. I majored in Social Work because I wanted to change the world. But it was the world that changed me. As I progressed through college and devoted myself to my son, I started to find joy in helping others. I became employed at a homeless shelter, volunteered for various organizations and helped my friends and family any chance I got.

At 24, I became licensed to provide therapeutic foster care, and within a few months, the state placed two children with me. At 26, I became a mother for the second time when I adopted a 5-year-old girl who came from a family much like my own. Over the past few years, I have cared for children ages 5 to 16, and I recently started providing adolescent substance abuse care through the same program I was in as a youth.

Yes, I grew up in a neglectful and abusive home. Yes, I was in foster care. I have been to jail. I have done drugs. I have hurt people. That doesn’t define me. I am beautiful, I am strong, and I can do anything I put my mind to, and I have. I came out of the chaos and I’m stronger for it. I found that, for me, the way to work through the trauma that I was raised in was to stand on my own two feet and share my experiences with the world.

I encourage you, the foster parents to be patient with your kids. They didn’t ask for this. You have the power to make a lasting difference in their lives. And, I encourage you, the foster children, not to let your past define you. You are all beautiful, and you have the power to change the world.
Published on May 10, 2015 as part of Children’s Rights’ “Fostering the Future” campaign. The opinions expressed herein are those of the blog author and do not necessarily represent the views of Children’s Rights or its employees. Children’s Rights has not verified the author’s account.
The post A Rebel WITH a Cause appeared first on Children's Rights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  • States’ Child Protective AGENCY’s FAIL in Many Performance TESTS

If your child Failed in school, wouldn’t you be concerned?
Below are two major tests, one might say, the Child Protective AGENCY takes.. And, heck not even every year. There are 2 major Groups, with 7 items in each. The two Major Groups are:
  • Outcomes;
  • Systemic Factors
>>>>> Read More
~~~~~~~~~~

 
  • National Coordinator of the Family Survey Program
    When One Deals with the Child Protective AGENCY
    >>;LearnMore

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Your mom is amazing. Does she know that?: Last Minute Suggestion for Your MOM:

On this Mother's Day, we're reflecting on the all the things we learned from our moms.
  • How to care for others and love unconditionally.
  • How to make sacrifices to make our loved ones' lives better.
  • How to speak out about the things we saw that we knew were wrong.
  • How gratitude for even the small things—like a beautiful sunset or a cold glass of milk—can bring new and unimagined beauty and joy into our everyday lives.
Our Mamas sacrificed a lot so that we could have as many opportunities as possible. Their love and support helped shape who we are today.
  • Make sure you don't let another Mother's Day go by without letting your Mom know what a difference she's made in your life.
  • Thank her for teaching you that your voice matters towards making our future better and brighter.
  • Thank her for working so hard to pay the bills and put food on the table while still fighting for more—because you know that she's worth far more than what her paycheck shows.
  • Thank her for showing you how to be a force for love and justice in the world (because if you're on this email list, we're clear you're indeed a force to be reckoned with!).
Select and send a powerful Mother's Day card that honors your Mama today.

From our families to yours, happy Mother's Day to all the Mamas celebrating today!

  - Sara, Mike, Kate, Shawn and the rest of the SEIU Digital Team
P.S. Don't see a card here that reflects your family? Check out Strong Families' Mamas Day here to make a card that honors your family today: http://mamasday.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May you find Strength in Your Higher Power,
Granpa Chuck
Keeper of the web files for http://nfpcar.org

The Beauty of Broken: View from one in Foster Care





Posted: 09 May 2015 05:54 AM PDT
Brandy Sacapanio-largeSome choose their destiny and for others, destiny chooses them. I never would have chosen my path, but on it I have found myself.
I went into foster care when I was 10. After being abused and neglected, I wanted to be loved and adopted, but things rarely work out the way we hope. Foster care was a whole new world. I went from feeling invisible to being in a place where people were hyper aware of where I was and what I was doing. It all made me extremely anxious. I searched every facial expression, word and body movement for signs of approval. I was consumed with the thought that if I could prove I was smart or helpful, then I would be wanted and kept.

But instead, I bounced around 26 times in the system. Mostly, I was moved because of behavior. I was in the gifted program, and was sweet and affectionate, but thanks to the trauma I experienced, I could also be smart-mouthed, manipulative and emotionally demanding. I was the kid who yelled, “You can’t touch me! I’m a foster child!” It never sat well.

I always wanted someone who wouldn’t give up on me. I wanted to lay it all out, and have someone say, “You are okay! I still love and want you!” But people gave up easily, and I learned to hide and be a chameleon. If they couldn’t handle the “edges” of me, I was certain they couldn’t handle the core.

My last stop was a children’s home. At first, I excelled in a rule-driven environment with clear boundaries. I learned what was expected of me and enjoyed the privileges associated with being good. But I also knew that being there meant I was no longer family material, and I felt like I was unworthy of love, like I was too lost to be saved. I began cutting and thought about dying more than living.

Ultimately I didn’t trust that the system had my best interests at heart, so I filed for emancipation and it was granted when I was 17. I thought this was the end of my journey, but it was actually the beginning. I was sexually abused by a trusted female friend, married and divorced, had a child out of wedlock, lost a child in utero, had trouble staying employed and dropped out of semester after semester of college. I feared I was mentally ill, and I overdosed and nearly lost my life.

But I was determined that life would be different for my daughter. It took a long time, but healing came. I graduated after 11 years with my Bachelor’s degree and went on to obtain my child welfare license to work with specialized foster children. I became a foster parent and took a child into my home who virtually mirrored my own struggles. It helped me realize how hard it is to reach a child in the midst of the storm and to deal with trauma-related behaviors. But by offering my foster daughter what I always needed, it was like I offered it to myself. It has been amazingly redemptive.

The system is a necessary evil. We hear horror stories of kids who have fallen through the cracks. In many ways I feel I was one of them, but I know I fared better in care than I would have out of it. I had food and shelter. I was healthier and had access to dental and eye care. I was able to attend school regularly. I moved often and struggled emotionally, but I wasn’t beaten or sexually abused.

There are things that need to change in foster care. There’s a need for more quality foster and adoptive parents, workers who are supported so they don’t burn out and programs for youth aging out. But there are also amazing people involved at every level who have dedicated their lives to the kids. And in the 20 years since I have been in care, I do see that strides are being made.

If someone asked me today what my greatest accomplishment in life has been, I would say, “I broke the cycle!” It was breathtakingly hard. I almost didn’t make it. Now I am married and have four beautiful children. I never dreamed life could be this good. As life goes on, I learn more and more what an accomplishment that truly is … and in it, I continue to heal.

I would tell those in foster care what I tell my daughter, whom we are currently adopting: “Nothing about what you have been through is fair or your fault. As with anything we go through, we have a choice about whether our experiences will win or we will! It’s worth the fight!” Beauty can come from ashes and a time can come where you honestly become thankful for what you’ve been through and survived.

Published on May 9, 2015 as part of Children’s Rights’ “Fostering the Future” campaign. The opinions expressed herein are those of the blog author and do not necessarily represent the views of Children’s Rights or its employees. Children’s Rights has not verified the author’s account.
The post The Beauty of Broken appeared first on Children's Rights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  • States’ Child Protective AGENCY’s FAIL in Many Performance TESTS

If your child Failed in school, wouldn’t you be concerned?
Below are two major tests, one might say, the Child Protective AGENCY takes.. And, heck not even every year. There are 2 major Groups, with 7 items in each. The two Major Groups are:
  • Outcomes;
  • Systemic Factors
>>>>> Read More
~~~~~~~~~~

 
  • National Coordinator of the Family Survey Program
    When One Deals with the Child Protective AGENCY
    >>;LearnMore

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Turning Adversity into an Asset: View of one in Foster Care

Posted: 08 May 2015 06:15 AM PDT
Diego Conde-largeDuring the first few months of 2008, all I could hear was my mother in pain and agony from the life-sucking disease we call cancer. That time was a blur, but I do recall smelling the crisp winter air as I headed to school after I made my mother a traditional Colombian dish of rice, meat, and arepa con queso. A remarkable single mother who created her own opportunities regardless of hard circumstances, she immigrated to the unknown to give me, her only son, the opportunity to reach the “American Dream.” Unfortunately, life sometimes has devastating twists and turns. That spring, she passed away. I was just 12 years old.

When my mother went into hospice, I moved in with a teacher who felt it was her duty to watch over me until I grew up to become a self-sufficient young adult. Her heart may have been in the right place, but she did not know how to take care of a suicidal adolescent who was dealing with grief and the sudden loss of his cultural identity and values. I ended up in a behavioral hospital for ten days, and her plan to adopt me ended. I was relieved when I signed my hospital release forms. Then I had a brief discussion with my caseworker about a new foster home.
I remember clenching my left fist and holding a small black bag with my personal belongings in my right hand as I walked to my caseworker’s car on a cold, windy evening. The whole ride to my new home left me nauseated and frightened. I repeatedly thought of how terrible it was not being able to meet my foster parents beforehand.

Shortly after, I arrived at the residence of a somewhat elderly, married couple. I stepped inside their home and said goodbye to my caseworker. I felt very awkward not knowing much about them. I was given just a quick tour before I was lead to my room. It did not feel welcoming at all!

This couple tried hard to push their values and morals on me. From my perspective, this was not going to fly. Discussions quickly turned into arguments. I was given “happy pills” like Prozac and Risperdal to help me tame my rage and deal with my grief. I was forced to abide to their ways of living. I had to come straight home from school and was prohibited from leaving the house. I took every order they gave me, and always answered with “Yes Ma’am” or “Yes Sir.” In this situation, without a doubt, I was unable to cope with my grief over my mother’s death.

I reached out to a teacher at my middle school and told her I did not feel safe in my foster home. She made it her duty to talk to our school’s case manager, and I was finally moved.
In my last placement, I started hearing the words “high-risk,” a term that still bothers me. Being labeled that way made me feel like I was doing something wrong and I would never have the opportunity to grow and develop like other kids. To this day, I still correct people when they use the term.

Ultimately, foster care was both a blessing and a curse and I will tell you why. Some foster parents and children I lived with made me believe I was a problem to them, my caseworkers and anyone else who came onto my path. I had side effects from the anti-psychotic medication I was forced to take throughout my teenage years, and I felt the impact of emotional and mental abuse. It all got to me. Day in and day out I kept having this crazy desire to leave foster care. So I worked hard academically. I graduated from high school early. I moved onto college and lived on my own in student housing.

Now I am growing each day, and hope to become a successful entrepreneur. I know my development would not be achievable without the contributions of others and my willingness to have the right attitude. Over the years, I have spoken with many adults, not just about employment opportunities, but also about their lives, and they have helped broaden my perspective on the world. I know I was very lucky to have a mother who instilled in me early on that an appreciation for people and an enthusiastic attitude can create positive outcomes in life. To sum it up, here is one of my favorite quotes by Joseph Campbell, “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”

Published on May 8, 2015 as part of Children’s Rights’ “Fostering the Future” campaign. The opinions expressed herein are those of the blog author and do not necessarily represent the views of Children’s Rights or its employees. Children’s Rights has not verified the author’s account.
The post Turning Adversity into an Asset appeared first on Children's Rights.


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