The Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE) is an organization that promotes awareness of the slew of Texas children who have never known the true love a family brings. Whether they were simply given up at birth, or taken from an uncaring and unsafe household, these kids deserve a better life than they have been dealt.
Now I am not saying run out and be a trendy Brad and Angelina, but if adoption is something you have once considered, or are considering, do yourself and the children a favor by at least visiting TARE's website and checking out the list of kids in need. Read the info, then make a decision about your next step if the situation calls for it.
http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adoption_and_Foster_Care/default.asp
Did you know that a large number of our homeless were once foster kids?
ReplyDeleteThe Need for Adoptive Parents. A large number of our homeless were once foster children who out grew the system! They turned 18, their case was closed, and they were put out on the streets. The sad thing is that, this is happening everyday! Everyone wants the baby or small child, but the older ones move house to house until they age out of the system and are left homeless.
However, our government has set up special care for these teens who DO get adopted. The older adopted children (over the age of 6) receive a monthly stipend (based on need), medical coverage until 18, and a full ride to any State college within your State. What a beautiful opportunity for a future our State gives these adopted children. All it takes is one family whose willing to open up their hearts and homes to these children and youth!
The Need for Foster Parents. More children are found to be in abusive homes where there is an atmosphere of fear and neglect than there are families to take them in. Often these children have to transfer to other regions and even states to even find a place to stay. They feel unloved, afraid, and alone.
When we think of the word “home”, we think of a place of rest, peace, security, and love. It’s a place that we can call our own. What grieves my heart is that many of these children and youth have never known that kind of place.
We have the opportunity to be a part of replacing fear, abuse, and abandonment with faith, hope, and love. As a Foster or Adoptive parent your heart will be stretched and perhaps break at times in order to enlarge it. But it’s ‘ok’ to love a child, even if it’s temporary... it may be the only love that child will ever know. I pray we all have hearts that are never too busy to be moved with compassion.
The general requirements to be foster or adoptive parents:
•Must be at least 21 years of age;
•Be married (for at least 2 years), or single;
•Be willing to attend pre-service training and participate in the home study process;
•Must allow criminal history and child abuse background checks.