Foster Care and Adoption

Did you know that 30,000 kids aged out of Foster Care in 2010?

Colleagues from Chapin Hall have been following the progress of more than 600 former foster kids.


"Many of them are faring poorly," says Courtney. "Less than half were employed at 23, 24. They're much less likely to have finished high school, less likely to be enrolled in college or have a college degree."

In fact, by age 24, only 6 percent have two- or four-year degrees. More than two-thirds of the young women have children. Nearly 60 percent of the males have been convicted of a crime. Almost a quarter were homeless at some point after leaving foster care.

"Those children are our children, the children of society, of the state," says Courtney. "I would argue that we have no business taking them into care and then keeping them until they're in the transition to adulthood, unless we're going to try to do a good job of that."

Check out this article to find out more.

My question is, why are so many people adopting from other countries when there are so many children in the US that need homes. In TX, if you adopted a foster child, you pay very little if anything and if they're over a certain age when they're adopted, you get a monthly allotment until they turn 18.

Someday, Eric and I would like to be foster parents or adopt a foster child. I would ask you to think and pray about becoming a foster parent or adopting a foster child.

Texas Fun!

Mommy and I have been enjoying our vaction to Texas. So far I've seen Amy & Rex (my aunt and uncle), Renka (this is my word for both Grandpa & Grandma, Dana, John & my new baby cousin, Laney (Aunt & cousins) Baby Laney's Elise name is "Babies". Renka's dog is Raskers (Rascal).  Tomorrow we get to see Uncle Brett for the first time this trip.

We got to meet my new baby cousin Laney for the first time. She is just 5 weeks old!

We got to take a cousins picture!

I love baby Laney! I got to help grandma hold her! I took my job very seriously!

Here's a picture of just us girls!

We went to the zoo and had a blast! We went to the petting zoo first and I wanted nothing to do with the goats! I would not let Grandma put me down. Just 10 short months ago I was fearless around them!

Afterward, to help me calm down we went to a little play area. They had this old truck as well as an old tractor and sand area for the kids. I had fun "driving" Mommy around.

I enjoying the sand as well and reluctantly headed out to see more animals.

My favorite was of course the elephants and we were able to see them while we ate lunch. John loved the penguins and I got a little impatient waiting. Right after this picture below, I grabed Grandpa's hand and said "walk"! I know what I wants and I'm not afraid to let you know what that might be!

While we waited for cousin John, I had grandma sit on the floor with me to look at the fish.

Today, Grandma took me shopping at Kohl's! I got lots of new clothes! Afterward Grandma took Mommy and me to a restaurant where they serve breakfast all day! I got scrambled eggs and Grandma even let me take a few bites from her plate! I got to eat some blueberries and whipped cream!

After lunch, we went to the grocery store. I got to help Grandma by pushing my very own cart. It was very sad to leave it, but Mommy said I had to leave it so other kids could enjoy it.

Tomorrow we get to go to church with Grandpa and Grandma, Then we get to go to a cookout and see my Uncle Brett. This will be the first time he's seen me since my 1st birthday!