Search Results for: blog social workers a day in their shoes

Book Review: Maybe Days: A Book for Kids in Foster Care

My last blog mentioned some books written to help foster care kids understand and come to terms with their experiences. I wanted to write a full review of another book, Maybe Days: a Book for Children in Foster Care. This book, labeled for ages 4-10 years, seems to me to be for somewhat older kids than The Star or Zachary’s New Home (books discussed in the last blog). It is written by Jennifer Wilgocki, M.S., a child and family therapist who presents training on attachment and bonding issues to professionals and foster parents. Dr. Marcia Wright is a clinical psychologist. … Continue reading →

Ten Things I’m Thankful For about Adoption Today

1. Those birthmothers who choose life in the face of pressure to do otherwise. In many cases this is a brave, brave action. If my daughter ever asks if her birthmother loved her, I can answer in the affirmative—because otherwise she wouldn’t be here. 2. The birth family members who provide honest medical and social history for their children. This helps us give them better medical and developmental care, reassures them that they have a history like everyone else, and frees the mind from wondering too much about their past and lets it go on to other things. 3. The … Continue reading →

Social Workers: A Day in Their Shoes

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Those of you who have been following my blogs know that I am no fan of the child protection / foster care / adopt system in Texas. That is a common feeling with most of the people who have shared their stories from other states. I have said on occasion that almost any way of doing things would be an improvement over what we experienced in going through the foster / adopt process with our five boys. I have to admit that I have encountered many very competent hard working people with the state and I have not intended to … Continue reading →

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids

One positive that’s happened in adoption in 2008 is the activity of a creatively targeted program, funded by Wendy’s customers and the foundation started by the hamburger chain’s founder, to help kids in foster care find permanent homes. There are over half a million kids in foster care in the U.S. By last year’s figures, 129,000 were free to be adopted. Many spend five years or more in foster care before being adopted. Children who are in the foster care system until they “age out” at age eighteen often find themselves literally on the street with nothing and no one. … Continue reading →

“I’ll Take That One”

“Oh, my, look at all these beautiful babies,” says my eight-year-old daughter Meg, in high-heeled dress-up shoes and a feather boa. “I want THIS beautiful baby,” she coos, swooping her five-year-old sister into her arms. You’ve got to be kidding me, I think. We’ve told you over and over that we decided to adopt you before we ever saw you. You know perfectly well about the 6 a.m. phone call when Mrs. S’s voice said, “you have a daughter”. You’ve seen the video of yourself that the workers sent us from Korea after you’d had your visa medical check at … Continue reading →

Kinship Foster Care

My last two blogs defined kinship adoption and discussed its advantages and disadvantages. This blog is about the related topic of kinship foster care. Some estimates say that nearly half of the children in foster care are living with relatives. This is very hard to measure, as many families may be taking care of grandchildren, nieces or nephews informally. As with kinship adoption, the major advantage of kinship foster care is that the children are with someone familiar instead of being further traumatized or frightened by being placed with strangers. Many children also find living with relatives to be less … Continue reading →

“Saints” in U.S. Adoption

Since some Christian denominations recognize today as All Saints’ Day (a day to honor role models past and present, living and dead), I decided to do a bit of research on people who have had a great impact on adoption. Of course this list could include many, many people. I hope that holding up a few will reflect honor on all of those who continue to work for children and families. The U.S. Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute established the annual “Angels in Adoption” awards and gala to honor the unsung heroes from all 50 states who have enriched the … Continue reading →

I am Broke and Grateful – Three Ways to Appreciate the Things You Have

Three years ago my husband and I were both employed full-time. While we certainly weren’t getting rich we were living very comfortably with the income I was making as a social worker and he was making as a Sheriff’s Deputy. Two children, and minus one full-time income later we are broke – and happy. I’ll admit. I am not always joyful about being broke. In fact, my husband and I went out on a rare “date-night” last night and ate at one of our favorite restaurants. I remember looking at the dessert menu and drooling over the $5.00 tiramisu and … Continue reading →

The Seven Intelligences: What Kind of Learner is Your Child?

Children learn in a variety of ways. This is why the traditional method of education, where a teacher lectures children as they sit facing her in rows, is often woefully inadequate. Once we discover the specific intellectual strengths our children have, we can help provide them with new, stimulating experiences that will inspire them to learn in their own ways. The Seven Intelligences There are seven different types of intelligence, as described by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner in his book, Frames of Mind. According to Gardner, we know that every child has a bit of each in different proportions. As … Continue reading →