Mondays Matter: Week 45

Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways To Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza

GET INVOLVED WITH FOSTER KIDS

-Over 500,000 children are in foster care and their average ages is 10.

-The average length of stay for all children currently in foster care is 2.4 years.

-14% of the children in foster care have been there for more than 5 years.

-Over 51,000 children are adopted annually through the foster care system.

ACTION STEPS

1. Find a foster care facility near you. Contact them and ask how you can help.

2. Sign up as a volunteer and get your family and friends involved.

3. Be prepared. Volunteers at a foster care facility can be involved in everything from outside physical activities to arts and crafts.

4. Become a foster parent or adopt a child.

Our community has 2 families, that I know of, that have been foster parents and then adopted those same children. These are both families who have already raised their children and are starting over again. I am in awe of both of these families for the love they have shown to the children. Unfortunately, foster children often come from parents/homes where they were mistreated, abused, malnourished, and may even have special needs. To take on these struggles just astounds me and I have seen great changes in these kids since they first came to our community as foster kids. So, to add to the Action Steps above....thank a foster parent/adoptive parent today. Let them know you appreciate them, pray for them and the children, and offer support. These kids now have opportunities they never would have had in their original homes. These kids now have a chance. Foster parenting may not be for you, but for these kids, I am certainly glad they have this community to now be a part of, and a home where they can build happy memories.