Does any one have any information on how to become a foster or adoptive parent or a mentor. I have been blessed with a 22 month beautiful daughter and I doubt that I will have anymore naturally due to my age.
Thank you guys so much for your responses. I did contact some of the places that you guys suggested and thye were able to walk me through the process. Since I have the 22 month old I wanted to foster a child close to her age group. However in shpeaking with the different orginazation, I was told that the fostering system has mostly older children, ages 10 and up. I am not sure if I am ready for an older child at this point. Maybe in the future.
For mentoring - Big Brother/sister group
For foster care you can call DCFS, Maryville Academy in Des Plaines Il., or Lydia House on Irving Park Rd. has a fostering program that attempts to get the children into a temp. good home before they hit the system.
Do a web search, there are tons of options out there and tons of kids. Let us know how it goes...
You can always try calling Catholic Charities to start with or any of the bigger social service agencies. You will have to go through a licensing process before becoming a foster parent. A lot of the agencies also have mentoring programs that you can be a part of. If you decide to become a foster parent, I am the coordinator of a program funded through The Department of Children and Family Services called the Foster Family Support Program. Our goal is to support foster families and stop some of the "bouncing" that foster children face. This program depending on your area is in several areas around the Chicagoland and West and Northwest suburbs. You can find the program through your local Family Focus office or you can contact me for more information. Good luck!!!
May G-d bless you for your abundance of kindness. There are so many children in need of someone stable like you.
Contact Aunt Martha's in Chicago Heights, they would be able to tell you.
M.
You can also try your local Big Brothers/Big Sisters for mentoring.
E.,
Oprah had a guest on just recently asking for people to mentor kids. If you go to Oprah's website you can learn more about it. I think the organization is called Essence.
Have you ever thought about adopting embryo(s)? There is an organization called Snowflakes that does this. It is a christian organization. (Just a thought)
Best Wishes!
E..
I would like to try to be the voice of balance in this response. First, I will give you some background. I am the oldest of three biological children and three adoptive children, so six all together.
I was sixteen when my parents got their first foster child, my biological second cousin, who was five. He is now 16. He is in a youth facility that deals with anger and behavior issues. My sisters are 13 and 14 and have their own issues. The older one has anger issues and also behavioral issues. The younger one is mentally and emotionally closer to age 7 or 8 and can never be left alone with younger children because she will do sexually inappropriate things to them. I have been walking a tight-rope when visiting at my parents home since my son was born four years ago.
In many ways my parents did amazing things taking in foster children. Providing a safe and loving environment and willingly working night and day. But there are down sides. One of their foster children had to be removed because my younger sister (still a foster child at that point) molested him. What I want to say to you is this: please be very careful what influences you bring into your home. It can be so dangerous to bring in children older than your own.
Most children coming into the foster system have seen and experienced more things than you can possibly imagine. They will NOT be grateful to you for taking them, they will not love you in the way that you want, and they will ALWAYS long for their original, biological family no matter how much attention, love, care and time you pour into them. That is the sadness of being a foster family. Most people will not talk to you about that aspect because the truth is that DCFS is always in need of good foster families. They are in the business of selling the hope and care aspects, not the pain, saddness and frustration. However, it is my opinion that a family with very small children should not become foster parents because of the adverse effects that can come about.
Foster children didn't ask for what has happened to them and no one deserves that kind of life; sadly, they will bear the effects of their early life for the rest of their days and they will be dealing with those issues in YOUR HOME. Please get some good counsel and advice before you choose fostering. I would also like to point out that adoption, although less if from infancy, has many of the same issues which I have raised regarding fostering.
If you would like to give back to the community and the world village, I would suggest a mentoring program. At least until your child is old enough and soundly wise enough to deal with the other children you will be bringing into your home. You never want to walk into a room and see a foster child about to hit your child over the head with a hammer.
If this is frightening or worrisome, so be it. I just want both sides told.
R.
Dear E.,
Call DCFS and tell them you are interested in being a foster parent. They will help you get started. I called them and talked to them about it. They walk you trough every thing. I have the local number for woodstock.
B.
Hi E.! I'm in a similar situation, blessed with one and highly doubtful for #2. Before having my daughter (which was a complete lucky fluke) I attended this ABC's of adoption sponsored by Resolve. It gives a great overview of different adoption options (domestic, open vs closed, international). Speakers include adoptive parents, adopted children, birthmoms, etc. I don't remember them talking about foster care route, but as others mentioned DCFS is a great resource. Much luck to you! In my mind, nothing is better than having a brother or sister!!!!!!!!
http://greatlakes.resolve.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&a...
Forgot to mention that Resolve also has wonderful bulletin boards too! Technically they are hard to work with, but they are well attended and a great resource.
