Posts
Yesterday was National Adoption Day. A day where we
celebrate the forever families thousands of kids across the country that are
finalized. And while this is a victory for thousands of kids, there is much
work to be done. There are still 400,000 kids in foster care across the U.S.
Then, there are the approximately 20,000 youth who age out each year, either at
age 18 or 21 and are basically sent off on their own without any family to lean
on. Often, nowhere to go for holidays, or with whom to celebrate birthdays. The
statistics are grim, 1.8% of former foster youth graduate from college. 25% are
incarcerated within two years of emancipation.
And while I’m blessed
to know a few extraordinary kids who defied these odds, even as the brightest
and hardest working youth, they still struggle: with healthcare, with
transportation, with food. And this is just the minimum for their peers who
weren’t as lucky, who didn’t have mentors or role models to teach them work
ethic, who have learning disabilities, who were abused. These are the youth of
the state, or youth that the state tries, and often fails, to take care of.
However large this problem may seem to you, there are things
you can do. You can help one child realize their potential, to succeed in
school, to go to college, to get a job. Learn about the legislation and call
your members of congress and ask them to support it. H.R. 2028, Every Child
Deserves a Family Act, H.R. 1732 Strengthening the Child Welfare Response Act,
CHIFF-the Children in Families First Act. Serve as a mentor in your community,
as a foster parent, or as a CASA. Remember, while you may be blessed to have a
family this holiday season, there are 400,000 kids in foster care, and
thousands more emancipated, who don’t have a family to love them by no choice
of their own. Do something this holiday season to help foster youth and former
foster youth remember that someone cares. You could be the one person who makes a difference in a foster youth's life. It’s as easy as a google search to
get started and here are some resources:
No comments:
Post a Comment