Our little friend Jiminy Cricket once said “when you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires, will come true.” Take a second and visualize something you once wished upon a star for. Maybe you wished for something as big as finding the cure for cancer or as simple as getting an A in a class. Whatever the wish, it was something you strongly desired to have in life. If your wish came true, great, if not, that’s fine to, but the point is that you had even the slightest hope it could come to be.

Now imagine a world in which wishes and dreams feel out of your reach. A world where the odds always seem stacked against you and you almost never get to experience what it is like to have a dream come true. This is the world in which too many of the half a million youth currently in U.S. foster care live.  Like most of us, they have wished upon a star. However, they don’t have the luxury of wishing to be the Laker’s new star forward. Their dreams are to be placed in a quality foster home where the parents treat them like their own, to have someone to celebrate their life’s accomplishments with, and not having to worry about where they will lay their head or fill their stomachs that night.

There is one dream that many youth, both in and out of foster care, share which is the opportunity to go to college and achieve graduation. A recent study published by Casey Family Programs found that only 3-7% of the 70% who plan to attend college actually graduate with a bachelor’s degree. That would mean out of nearly 500,000 youth, 350,000 have plans to attend college but only 11,000 are actually graduating with a degree. What is happening to the other 339,000 youth who wanted so desperately to obtain a higher education?

I remember my first day of college. I was terrified, scared of what was going to happen after my mom and my best friend left me to fend for myself in a sea full of party hungry teenagers hoping they spend their parents’ money wisely on an extremely expensive education. Yes, I was in foster care, but my story is very unique compared to most foster care alumnae. I was placed in a foster home that gave me the mom to celebrate with when goals were accomplished, someone who would make sure my stomach was full and my head was well rested. I had someone who made sure she did everything in her power to make me a part of that 3-7% of youth who graduated with a degree. I had the dream of graduating college and she made me believe that dream was possible. And because of her support, I went on to college and I graduated. Currently, I sit as the youth engagement coordinator for Mile High United Way’s youth success initiative.

As I said, I was one of the lucky ones. A large percentage of former foster youth are attending college after “aging out” of foster care, meaning they have no family, no system who is responsible for them. At 18, they are alone making decisions that will have lifelong consequences. Many are first generation college students so they also suffer from the fear that this is a dream that is beyond someone like them. Finally, since they are most often on their own financially, these youth have to work their way through college.  Add the stress, the work, the pressures and questions that college brings to the life of any young person and you can see why so many fail to finish.

USA Today’s article “Programs Help Foster Youth Achieve College Success” describes the work that programs like Guardian Scholars are doing to better support youth along their path to graduation. All too often we see youth on the right track to success, but the lack of support both emotionally and financially derails any chance they had of getting ahead and no human being should ever be denied the ability to obtain happiness and self-worth.  In the words of a current scholar from UCLA’s program, Guardian Scholar programs provide youth “a community that I can always rely on.” I think the most important word in that statement is always. Always being able to rely on the community, always being able to say that one has friends and family he can call on in a time of need, stress, or hardship.  There is incredible power in always being able to say one always has that.

And what articles like the one in USA Today show is this. It is ALWAYS possible for each and every youth in care to achieve their dreams. They just need a Jiminy Cricket or Gepetto to guide them towards making them reality.

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.

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.

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

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?’

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.

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

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