January 6th is the deadline to submit applications for the 2012 CCAI Foster Youth Internship Program.  This program brings current and former foster youth from across the country to intern in Congressional offices for a summer internship.  During the program, interns participate in a number of advocacy and professional development activities.  They have the opportunity to share their firsthand knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of foster care with policymakers who can affect change.

See how these former interns were impacted by the program:

“I recommended the FYI program to a friend of mine who ultimately interned through FYI the year after I did. Like me, he has also stated that he felt this was a life changing opportunity for him. I continue to encourage foster care alumni who I know to apply for this program because I feel that this is a wonderful opportunity to see our nation’s capitol, to learn about the political structure of our legislature and to meet other people who have similar life experiences to themselves.”

“Due to being an intern with FYI, CCAI asked me to help them pick interns for a couple of the other classes, which was an honor but a grueling decision to have to make. CCAI also contacts me every Christmas to send me cards and gifts, which makes me feel like they are remembering me and caring about my future. I have also nominated a number of people I know for Angels in Adoption and their selection has been one of the few ways I have felt that I have been able to thank them in the way that they truly deserve. Thanking these people has been a delight for me and for the people who were recognized and I feel that the legislators who made the choices were more educated for having learned about them.”

“The FYI program was where I discovered what I actually wanted to do; how I wanted to impact the foster care system. For nearly three years I had been passionate about reforming the foster care system, but it was during my time on the Hill that I realized how I wanted to change it. While direct service was rewarding to me, I felt like I wasn’t able to change the foster care system on a substantive level. The FYI program didn’t just teach me legislative ideas, it inspired me and emboldened me to create my own ideas.”

Earlier this month CCAI launched a campaign with the goal of raising $25,000 by December 31st.  A generous donor has offered to match every gift brought in this month dollar-for-dollar!  Your support will now go twice as far as we impact the lives of children in need of families.  Will you consider taking advantage of this opportunity for the matching gift?

Want to learn more about how CCAI will use your gift to change the lives of children in need of families?  

Watch our video.

Click here to DONATE and impact the life of a child in need of a family!

CCAI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  We do not accept government funding, so we rely on the generous support of individuals like you.  Thank you enabling us to work to see our vision of a family for every child become a reality.

Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs held a hearing on the high societal and financial costs of over medicating our nation’s foster youth.    CCAI would like to commend Chairman Thomas Carper and Ranking Member Scott Brown for their leadership in addressing such an important issue.  While the findings of the GAO are shocking to say the least, it is sadly not surprising to learn that youth in our Nation’s foster care are being victimized in this way.  We not only can, but we must, do better.  Issues such as the overuse of psychotropic drugs and the lack of quality mental health care are ones that have come up time and time again in the past four years of Foster Youth Intern Reports.  These wise young leaders have identified several factors which contribute to the disturbing trends revealed by yesterday’s hearing.

First, it is important to bear in mind how the federal government currently finances the foster care system.  Under the law today, states on average receive a high level of reimbursement for a child who has special needs and for children who are in congregate care.  The rationale behind such policies is that it stands to reason that the care of such children would in fact be higher than a child without special needs or who could be cared for in an individual family.  Yet, without proper screening methods and controls, it is quite possible for states to improperly label children so that they can receive the highest level of funds available for the care of a child.  This is not to suggest that states are purposely lying about the needs kids have, but there is evidence to suggest that financing and budget decisions are playing a role in the care decisions being made on their behalf.

Secondly, many CCAI Foster Youth Interns (FYIs) report that their experience in receiving mental health services while in foster care was suboptimal.  They are right to point out that the professionals (doctors, therapists, etc.) they are in the care of are often new to the profession and least likely to be trained in state of the art treatments specific to the needs of youth in care.  This is due in part to the fact that they are most often receiving these services through Medicaid.  So in essence, these kids, who are acknowledged by all to have some of the most complex mental health issues to grapple with, are being treated by those least likely to have the training and skills necessary to treat them.

Thirdly, the fact remains that there is only one foster family for every four children who need foster care.  What this means is that children in foster care are being cared for in group homes and by foster families that are often stretched to the brink.  In these settings, the use of mind altering medication can become a way to “keep control” of kids behavior.  Year in and year out, FYIs have called on the federal government to increase its efforts to promote the recruitment and training of foster parents so that each and every child can have a family to give them the love and support they need to help them heal.

And finally, as the stories of the two children profiled by Diane Sawyer yet again prove the best medicine we can give these children is the family that they need and deserve.  As Keonte said yesterday, it was his adoptive parents who made him feel safe and loved enough to sort through the issues he faced because of his past.  It was his adoptive parents who sought out the top of the line treatment that has helped him heal.  And it was his adoptive parents who sat by his side as he stood before the US Congress to demand that this no longer be the case for other children.

Keonte testifying in Congress. Photo credit: ABC News from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/boy-12-tells-congress-of-years-on-stupid-meds/

 

Catch ABC’s 20/20 special tonight continuing the story on this topic.

On this the eve of the day that our Nation stops to give thanks for all that is good in our lives, I have been thinking of the many people that CCAI has met and partnered with over the last year.  Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, for indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Today of all days, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with all of you–you are truly some of our world’s most amazing people and I am continually inspired by your passion and commitment to find a family for every child.  Since this is a blog, not a book, I cannot outline for you all the people who have made a difference in my life this year.  And so in the spirit of Letterman, I will just close with the “Top Ten Things I am Grateful for This Thanksgiving.”

10) For my incredible staff, who never say never.

9) For my mom and dad, who instilled in me a life long appreciation of family.

8) For my friends and family, who put up with my being an always late and often absent minded work-a-holic.

7) For Rita Soronen and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, who proved to the world there is no such thing as an unwanted child.

6) For Joshua DuBois and Michael Wear of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships who are putting new meaning behind the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child.”

5) For Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, my hero, who has always been willing to use her position and power for the benefit of the least among us.

4) For the Foster Youth Interns, all 120 of you, not a day goes by that I am not inspired by you and your passion for changing the world.

3) For the staff of the over 160 Members of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, for your willingness to work long hours for little reward and your choosing to use your voice for children without one.

2) For our funding partners, without whom, there would be no CCAI.  We strive every day to be worthy of your continued investment.

1) For Amy Corlew, 2011 Angel in Adoption, for reminding me what our work is all about!

 Happy Thanksgiving!

-Kathleen

Today, thousands of children will legally become a part of a family.  They will walk out of courtrooms across the country with an incredible smile on their faces and the security that comes from knowing when they go ‘home’ tonight, it will be for good.  Today, they will finally be able to say they are someone’s son or daughter.

Chris, 8 years old, was adopted during a National Adoption Day ceremony this year and read a letter during the event, “When I first saw you, I thought you were my mommy. You acted like a mommy and you treated me like you were my mommy. And one day, it’s happening. I feel like my heart was pounding. When I moved away, I was sad every time I moved. I am happy now. I love you, because I have you mom.”

Photo credit: The St. Clair Times

Today, on National Adoption Day, thousands of children across the country are finally having their hopes and dreams of a permanent family come true.  Judges, social workers, attorneys, and community members are coming together to be inspired and reminded just how important their work on behalf of children in need of families is.  But, this day is also about the 107,000 children in foster care still waiting to be adopted.

At CCAI, we work to raise awareness about children waiting for families through legislative efforts.  However, no policy that Congress ever passes will make an impact in a child’s life without those of you in the community, stepping forward and saying ‘yes!’ to making a difference in the life of a child.

When you’re enjoying your Thanksgiving meal with friends and family this week, look around the table and ask yourself ‘Do I have room for one more seat that a child in foster care can fill next year?’

Inspired by a National Adoption Day court proceeding, Judge Jim Barfield wrote ‘Rise and Shine’.  His song was part of the 10th year celebration for National Adoption Day in Atlanta in honor of the adoptive families coming through the Fulton County Juvenile Court.  We are happy to make this song available for your use in celebrating National Adoption Day tomorrow!  Enjoy listening to Rise and Shine!

Washington, DC National Adoption Day Celebration, 2010

RISE AND SHINE
By Jim Barfield, (composed in support of National Adoption Day) copyright 2011

With the stroke of a pen,
A new family begins,
And it’s true beauty,
Will never end,
Rise and shine, rise and shine,
Sweet child of mine,
Rise and shine,
Rise above the things,
That pull you down,
And shine through the blindness,
That’s all around,
Rise and shine, rise and shine,
Sweet child of mine,
Rise and shine,
Rise above wrong turns in every road,
Shine your light straight from your soul,
Rise and shine, rise and shine,
Sweet child of mine,
Rise and shine,
(Bridge) I want you to know – I’m here to stay – I’m right beside you – each step of the way.
With open hands – and open heart – I will cherish each moment – doing my part,
(so you can) Rise and shine, rise and shine,
Sweet child of mine, rise and shine.

The below message is from the First Lady of Arkansas, Ginger Beebe.  Beebe was in and out of several foster homes before being adopted.  Her and her husband, Governor Mike Beebe, remain committed to this issue.  This Saturday, on National Adoption Day, consider making a forever difference in the life of a child in foster care.

I was adopted at the age of four by loving parents, who twelve years earlier, had also adopted a baby girl, now my older sister.  My new family accepted me and provided stability and unconditional love. They instilled in me the importance of serving and giving back to my community.

National Adoption Day raises awareness of the many children who are in need of adoption. This day is also a time to say thank you to the families who are serving as foster parents and those who have opened their homes through adoption.

I would like to encourage more families to seek out the needs in their communities to adopt or to become foster parents. The blessings you will receive through the giving of your love will only be eclipsed by the permanent impact that you will make in a child’s life.

First Lady of Arkansas Ginger Beebe

As you may know, this Saturday, November 19th is National Adoption Day.  This special day exists to raise awareness about the over 107,000 children in foster care waiting to be adopted, and to finalize over 4,000 adoptions from foster care across the country.  These children will have something very special to be thankful for next Thursday, a loving and supportive family.  Over 300 events will be held, with many other individuals celebrating through the online community.

Here are a few ideas of ways to get involved:

1. Attend your local National Adoption Day Event

2. Help raise awareness about children in foster care by highlighting National Adoption Day on your facebook or blog: be sure to link to resources in your community (your local dept. of children’s services or non-profit foster care agencies, Court Appointed Special Advocates, your local Heart Gallery, mentoring organizations, or other resources in your area)

3. Use Twitter to recognize your support of National Adoption Day: be sure to use the #nationaladoptionday hashtag

4. Call/email your elected officials to encourage them attend an event, issue a press release or write an op ed, or promote National Adoption Day through their own social media: direct their staff to www.ccainstitute.org/nad for resources that will assist them

The findings and recommendations from CCAI’s The Way Forward Project are now available in the report.

This year-long project brought together leaders from the legal, medical, social work and development communities.  These experts were asked to consider ways in which six African nations might build upon their current efforts to preserve and reunify families and, when family preservation proves impossible, to connect children with families through adoption and guardianship.

This report was released during the project’s Summit earlier this week.  Here are some picture highlights from the event.

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton. Photo credit: Matt Lehner

From left: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Mary Landrieu, Rep. Karen Bass. Photo credit: Matt Lehner

Pastor Rick Warren. Photo credit: Matt Lehner

The Senators with The Way Forward Project Working Group Chairs. Photo Credit: Matt Lehner