There is a Foster Child on Your Doorstep

by Fatherofeight | More from this Blogger

08 Mar 2007 11:00 AM

It is a sad commentary on the foster system in Texas to write about how each of our boys had been prepared for delivery to our home. On February 5, 2003, our state social worker showed up with one month old Caleb. We had been told that he was one half African American and the other half Hispanic. When we pulled back the blanket over him, we received a shock. Caleb was as white as white can be. His last name was even White. We have now checked his DNA and know that he is 25% Hispanic and 75% Caucasian. They weren't even close.

Caleb had been in a shelter that has since been closed down. We know a little bit about it because a college student we know had been volunteering to help out on Saturdays. According to her, the children and the linens were not clean. She said that there was no soap in the building, she had asked. Caleb came to us in semi-dirty clothes, covered with a very soiled blanket. He only wears dirty clothes now when he has been outside playing in the dirt or in the creek.

Tommy came to us a month later from a foster home that was a commercial operation. They kept medically fragile (higher subsidy) children and had at least six in their care. Tommy was also dirty, his braided hair needed washing and was somewhat matted. He also had a quart, or so it seemed, of diarrhea in his diaper. He was coughing and had a very runny nose.

Matthew Walter and Jacob came together two months later. They were both in soiled clothes; Matthew Walter was wearing worn out bedroom slippers that he could not run in. His underwear was filthy. Jacob's hair was very unruly and terribly matted. All of the people who had these boys in their care were being paid to take care of them and they were all receiving clothing vouchers for the boys.

Our faith in humanity was partially restored when we received Isaiah. The people who had him for a week had purchased new clothes. We received all of the clothes and a nice diaper bag. To summarize, only one child in five arrived in something besides filthy rags.

The foster system needs more parent volunteers who have a heart for children and fewer who are out to make a buck.

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Crickett (272) 08 Mar 2007 10:10 AM

I imagine few Americans have any idea that this is how many foster children are treated. Some day you and your wife should consider speaking at churches/community centers to recruit loving foster parents. Just a thought.

crickett

Fatherofeight (2475) 08 Mar 2007 10:41 AM

Sign us up, that is one thing that we really want to do. I hope that this is funny for my readers who know mw. I was contacted about making a short talk and they wanted to know if i could be passionate. My answer was, How passionate do you want me to be?

PATTI (580) 08 Mar 2007 11:55 AM

Dear Ed, My prayer for your boys is that they "feel the love'' that you and Nancy give them. PATTI

Fatherofeight (2475) 08 Mar 2007 12:42 PM

I will take all of that I can get, thanks, Patti.

azsummer2003 (15) 08 Mar 2007 03:15 PM

As a mother who has raised two compassionate children, I wish I could talk my husband into fostering a child or two. Any suggestions as to how to get him on board?

http://taylorburgstahler.memory-of.com/about.aspx

Fatherofeight (2475) 08 Mar 2007 04:21 PM

I have written a number of blogs on foster care, it is something that my wife and I are very passionate about. I hesitate to recommend that you try to talk him into it. It is very, very hard. It will put a tremendous strain on both of you and your marriage. I don't think it will work unless both of you are fully on board. I wrote a blog with this url - http://adoption.families.com/blog/both-spouses-have-to-be-committed. My spiritual basis is all of the times in the OT where God says that He will be a father to the fatherless. It is a holy calling. Sorry I can't help you more.