“Little boy, 6 years old
A little too used to bein’ alone
Another new mom and dad, another school
Another house that’ll never be home
When people ask him how he likes this place
He looks up and says with a smile upon his face
This is my temporary home”
These words are from a song by Carrie Underwood. They describe not just one boy but over 3,310,000 children in the United States alone that do not have a permanent home. These are the foster kids<http://suitcases4kids.org/how-to-get-involved/number-of-foster-care-kids/>; these are the homeless kids<http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1883966,00.html>; these are the orphans in our midst<http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/usa_statistics.html>.
Foster kids move around alot, they go from homes to programs to group homes and sometimes back to homes again. Some of them can live in upwards of 21 different places by the time they are 15. They get used to being in “temporary homes”. Why do they end up in so many different places? There are a lot of reasons but in the end the foster parents, and the program and group home directors decide they cannot take care of these kids anymore. Then off they go again to yet another place to live. Some, like the little boy, just smile; others are angry, they either don’t understand what is happening to them or they resent it.
Homeless children live where they can. It may be in cars or shelters or even on the streets. Many of them are still with their parents who are homeless as well. Some of them are alone.
Some orphans are foster kids, others live in institutions. And whether they are orphans or foster kids when they reach adulthood they are moved out of the system to fend for themselves.
People are choosy when it comes to taking in children whether fostering or adopting. I work part time for an organization called suitcases4kids. <http://www.suitcases4kids.org> This gives me an opportunity to meet foster parents. They love the work they do. They are here for the kids. Most of them feel blessed to have the opportunity to help them.
But I was talking to one woman the other day who wants to be a foster parent and she has conditions; she won’t take a child over 3. Her reasoning is that before this age the kid isn’t “damaged”. But you know what? A child needs love no matter what age or condition. I have also spoken to foster parents who specifically look for “damaged” ones because they know these kids need the most help.
The system works the best it can; its social workers are trying to help but it breaks their hearts to see what these kids go through.
Our kids need help! As we move through this “Great Recession” these numbers are expected to rise and it is for many reasons such as parents finding they cannot support their own children anymore.
Okay, so you are being affected by the economy too so you cannot afford to take in a child or you are worried about their possible mental issues. But there are other ways to help. You can volunteer at a shelter. You can donate money, clothes, or other items. Give them love and give them support in any way you can so that our kids don’t feel abandoned!
And maybe they will be able to find something more than just “temporary homes”.
“Little boy, 6 years old
A little too used to bein’ alone
Another new mom and dad, another school
Another house that’ll never be home
When people ask him how he likes this place
He looks up and says with a smile upon his face
This is my temporary home”
These words are from a song by Carrie Underwood. They describe not just one boy but over 3,310,000 children in the United States alone that do not have a permanent home. These are the foster kids; these are the homeless kids; these are the orphans in our midst.
Foster kids move around alot, they go from homes to programs to group homes and sometimes back to homes again. Some of them can live in upwards of 21 different places by the time they are 15. They get used to being in “temporary homes”. Why do they end up in so many different places? There are a lot of reasons but in the end the foster parents, and the program and group home directors decide they cannot take care of these kids anymore. Then off they go again to yet another place to live. Some, like the little boy, just smile; others are angry, they either don’t understand what is happening to them or they resent it.
Homeless children live where they can. It may be in cars or shelters or even on the streets. Many of them are still with their parents who are homeless as well. Some of them are alone.
Some orphans are foster kids, others live in institutions. And whether they are orphans or foster kids when they reach adulthood they are moved out of the system to fend for themselves.
People are choosy when it comes to taking in children whether fostering or adopting. I work part time for an organization called suitcases4kids. This gives me an opportunity to meet foster parents. They love the work they do. They are here for the kids. Most of them feel blessed to have the opportunity to help them.
But I was talking to one woman the other day who wants to be a foster parent and she has conditions; she won’t take a child over 3. Her reasoning is that before this age the kid isn’t “damaged”. But you know what? A child needs love no matter what age or condition. I have also spoken to foster parents who specifically look for “damaged” ones because they know these kids need the most help.
The system works the best it can; its social workers are trying to help but it breaks their hearts to see what these kids go through.
Our kids need help! As we move through this “Great Recession” these numbers are expected to rise and it is for many reasons such as parents finding they cannot support their own children anymore.
Okay, so you are being affected by the economy too so you cannot afford to take in a child or you are worried about their possible mental issues. But there are other ways to help. You can volunteer at a shelter. You can donate money, clothes, or other items. Give them love and give them support in any way you can so that our kids don’t feel abandoned!
And maybe they will be able to find something more than just “temporary homes”.
