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April 28, 2003 Providing safe passages, one child at a time This guest opinion is by Don Darland, president of the Oregon Foster Parent Association. For a photograph of Darland, contact Patricia Feeny at (503) 945-6955 or patricia.feeny@state.or.us Length: 526 words By Don Darland It's no longer news that Oregon faces one of the gravest economic crisis in history. Less well known but of perhaps greater consequence for our future are the special needs of children who come into state custody and then into our foster homes. I am a foster parent. My wife and I have raised these children, sometimes four or more at a time, for the past 12 years. But with every adversity (foster parents have lost an average of $30 a month in state help) comes an equal or greater opportunity. The cloud over the state budget has prompted people to ask, "What can I do to help?" Collectively, we have about 6,000 foster children and teens in our homes. Each of these kids offers countless opportunities to mold a self-reliant, law-abiding and productive adult. New foster families are desperately needed; the number of licensed, certified and approved family foster homes in Oregon continues to decline. Children in foster care feel more secure and do better in school when they are able to stay in the same community where they are growing up. Make your own neighborhood a welcoming place for kids in foster care find out how you can help. It isn't necessary, however, to become a foster parent to have an impact on the life of a child in foster care. If you are looking for a way to help your community, consider being a respite care provider. Don't underestimate the need for respite care. Foster and adoptive parents face unique tests and challenges from the children in their care. Give the gift of service to an adoptive or foster family in your community. Offer to take a foster child for a few hours or a weekend. Most of us were not turned out on the streets on the day we celebrated our 18th birthdays. Yet that happens far too often to young people who have spent part of their lives in foster care. Each year nationally, more than 20,000 young people age out of foster care. They continue to need support and guidance from people in the community. Get involved: No foster youth should be sent into adulthood entirely alone. You can offer a teen-ager job training, a job, a place to stay, a computer, or mentoring. You can contact your local legislators to ensure that all young people in foster care are covered by health insurance until they are 21. The end of foster care should never mean the end of caring for our young people. The foster care system is only as good as the people who choose to be a part of it. As more Oregonians begin to feel responsible for children who are in foster care, the system will become better and better. At any time, and especially in these uncertain times, you can be a child's passage to safety and stability. One child at a time. If you are interested in respite care, foster parenting or adoption, please call your local DHS office or call (800) 331-0503. Don Darland of Scio, is president of the Oregon Foster Parent Association. May is national Foster Parent Appreciation and Awareness month. Darland can be reached at ability@smt-net.com |
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