Ok, I'll start out by saying that this post will be in no particular order. My thoughts that is.
The class was everything John and I thought it would be and more -- our instructor sounded just like the 5 foster care/adoption books I've read [and read to John] over the past year! I can see how God has worked out the timing of this in so many ways. Our Cousins here, as well as Friends will be watching the girls while we take the remaining eight THREE hour classes. Many, many thanks to them!
Ok, I'll just dive in.
First, the certification process takes about 9 months - like a pregnancy, our instructor said. She did a brilliant job explaining the risks and reality of Foster-to-Adoption as much as one can in one hour, I think.
Uhh, Ok, let me go grab my handout so that I can toss around some statistics for you. Before I get the sheet, I just have to say that I feel like God gripped my heart tonight and reminded me that His hand is in this and that we should not be set on just fostering a baby boy... *to be continued*. ;)
Alright, here are some facts from my handout. I will leave out our actual county(s) & state for privacy sake:
Foster Care
On average, 1,100 children are in foster/kinship care in both counties on any given day.
40% are Teens.
All have experienced trauma and loss.
Children who are waiting [legally free to be adopted] in Foster Care are typically over the age of 8.
Approximately 60 children [at any given time] are waiting.
How do children leave Foster Care?
73% return to their parents or relatives.
38% are adopted by their relative or a family friend [Kinship].
Foster Home placement: 54% are adopted by their foster family.
With all that written. I need to quiet my mind... try not to make any more "solid plans" [I'm a first born and an excessive planner] and 'hit the hay' even though John is working on his homework downstairs.
Thank you for reading! I'll try and 'blog' after each class!
2 comments:
Facinating Jen! Thank you for posting. I've always been interested in foster/adoption, but our life's circumstances haven't lined up yet. I have been told that the process is very similar to what I've gone through with daycare....just more intense. And I can see why. I look forward to reading more!
woohoo! can't wait to hear more! those stats don't surprise me, older kids always tend to be overlooked, most people want babies :/ (which i understand!) can't wait for updates!
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