Strained Foster Care System A 'Meter Of Our Social Problems'

by NPR Staff

September 22, 2013 6:19 PM

Claudia Felder lives in Chino, Calif., with her parents. It's a wholesome scene: nice house, three dogs and a parrot and happy family pictures everywhere.
You'd have no idea that the composed, cheerful, articulate young woman got off to a rough start in life.
Felder spent much of her childhood in foster care, starting when she was 3 years old. She's 21 now, and has been living happily with her adoptive family. But memories of an abusive past still haunt her.
"To this day, every now and then, I'll have a nightmare," Felder tells NPR's Arun Rath. "It's my biological mom getting the crap beat out of her in a motel room. She had long hair, but her face is always fuzzed out, so I never remember what she looks like, I can't recall that."

Claudia Felder, 21, was in and out of the U.S. foster care system for nearly 10 years before she found a permanent family. Her difficult story ended happily, but that's not always the case for the 400,000 kids in foster care in America.

Daniel Hajek/NPR

Claudia Felder, 21, was in and out of the U.S. foster care system for nearly 10 years before she found a permanent family. Her difficult story ended happily, but that's not always the case for the 400,000 kids in foster care in America.

Daniel Hajek/NPR

After that incident, Felder entered the foster care system, where she spent the better part of the next 10 years.
Felder says she remember the homes and some of the names of the parents from when she first went into foster care. This is all she knew; always moving, never knowing when she was going to leave.
This tumultuous life mirrors that of other children in the U.S. There are about 400,000 kids in foster care in the U.S. — roughly the equivalent of all of the kids in Chicago Public Schools. Preventing their precarious home lives would be ideal, but the system itself still needs help, according to those who work in and research foster care.
'All We Had'
When Felder was in foster care, she was not completely alone. Her sister was with her, too. Felder's sister is three years younger than she, just a baby at the time.
"I raised my little sister through foster care," she says. "That's all we had was each other. She was a baby, [but] that still meant more to me than anything. Somebody I at least knew going through all these other changes in my life."
And there were plenty of changes. Felder says they were moving in-and-out of foster homes, not knowing where they'd end up next or how long they'd have to stay.
"I had about six foster homes, and all but one were physically and sexually abusive," she says. "So I experienced it with my biological parents and then five other homes. It was like an ongoing thing."
When Felder was adopted, it seemed like the nightmare would finally come to an end. By the age of 6, she had already been in five foster homes. She says it was difficult to adjust to home life and she got into trouble in school.
"I had a lot of trust issues [and] a lot of abandonment issues," she says.
After four years in that house, Felder says the family wanted her out. At age 10, they sent her back into foster care. But she left alone; the family wanted to keep her younger sister. It was devastating.
A Meter Of Society's Problems
Cris Beam, the author of the book To The End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care, says this is the sort of life cycle of kids in foster care.
"They'll get pulled from their home at five or six and a van will come to them in the middle of the night, they'll take the kid, the kid is terrified, and they'll be put with a stranger," Beam says. "Imagine being five years old and suddenly being surrounded by strangers. They don't understand what's happening."
Beam has spent years researching foster care in America and is a foster parent herself. She says that all too often, these bewildered children will act out in various ways that can scare off ill-prepared foster parents who might otherwise adopt.
Beam says that the problems foster kids face are so intractable because they are also society's problems. She says it is impossible to address the foster care problem without tackling broader issues of drug abuse, domestic and sexual abuse, and poverty.
"They are a meter of our social problems," Beam says. "[But] not just a meter of how child welfare is failing or succeeding, they're a meter of how we are failing or succeeding as a society."
Not Enough Families
Alex Morales, the CEO of the Children's Bureau of Southern California, says the U.S. needs to focus on how it's going to prevent this problem in the first place.
"How do you reduce the situation so that you don't have 140,000 reports going on in a year?" Morales says. "You try to start very early with families ... prevention is ultimately the direction we need to invest in."
While prevention may be the key, Morales says there's still a crisis going on with Los Angeles Foster Care. There just aren't enough homes to take in kids, and that ongoing crisis in Los Angeles is one that reflects a national problem.
"The issue is, there are only about 3,000 foster homes," he says. "Not more than about five years ago, there were twice as many homes. The children have no place to go when they come into the care of the government or courts. Where do we put them?"
The answer is institutions and group homes. These aren't the old orphanages out of Charles Dickens, but according to Morales, the conditions in many group homes can be just as bleak. With overcrowding, kids end up sleeping in cots in adoption agencies; essentially office buildings become home.
Most social workers agree that even the best group home is no match for a real family, and it doesn't need to be a traditional one. Morales says that only a family can give these kids the kind of support they need.
"They're the final defenders of a child's future by saying, 'Look, the family has failed them, the system has failed them, and we're going to try to step in and be the last solution to catch this child before they go off the cliff into homelessness and jails,' " he says.
The Value Of A Home
After her first adoption failed, Claudia Felder spent almost seven months in a new foster home. She says it wasn't perfect, but it's where she met a new social worker. Someone she could trust. They talked about what Felder wanted.
"I remember talking about ... kids at school talking about sleepovers. What are they? I've always wanted to have a sleepover with a friend," Felder says. "The little things that a lot of people take for granted, it's like the things that a lot of kids and myself at that age longed for."
That social worker turned her life around, and eventually became Felder's mom.

Fictional 'Mothers' Reveal Facts Of A Painful Adoption Process

"I always say, I'm a really bad foster parent, because once they walk into the door, that's it, they're not leaving," says Kim Felder.
She could have adopted without the added difficulty of the foster care system, but says that she and her husband liked the challenge.
"Even when Claudia would pull some of her things, you would get frustrated," Kim Felder says, "[but] then when they do the little amazing thing like the first band concert or they graduate from high school, inside you're saying, 'Oh my God, have you seen how far this child has come? Can you see what they can do?' "
Kim and her husband have had that feeling over and over. They have eight kids, including Claudia — six of whom are adopted.
Claudia Felder's story has a happy ending, but that is not the story for a lot of kids. Researcher Cris Beam says that for many older kids who don't end up with families, cynicism sets in, and around 12 or 13 years old, they decide to run out the clock and wait for emancipation. Once they turn 18, they can go out on their own. Beam says being independent without strong family support is dangerous.
"The reality is they need someone to fall back on. They need parents when they're 20 or 23," Beam says. "Think about when you had your first heartbreak, your first job loss, your first crush, your first crash, your first anything. When kids hit any little stumble at all ... they need to have someone they can call upon. What we really need to be finding for them are families."
Today, Claudia Felder does outreach work with foster kids, and she's trying to help them understand why they need that support.
"A lot of these kids are just like I was. They don't want to be adopted," Felder says. "You need to have somebody in your life."

Adjusting to adoption Written by Pam J. Hecht, WNC Parent contributor Sep 04

citizen-times.com

The Compton family added two boys from Ethiopia to their family. Carter and Truett, then ages 4 and 2, joined Brantley, Coleman and Barret, who were 8, 10 and 11, four years ago. / Special to WNC Parent

Tips for families

Sandy Fowler, clinical post-adoption services coordinator for Children’s

Home Society of North Carolina, which provides parenting education, foster care and adoption services, shares some tips for families with biological children who also adopt:• Ask for help and support.• Know the difference between bonding and attachment and be patient. Bonding can be an instant connection but attachment - and trust - is a process that takes time.”• Talk with children about changes and their expectations. Pay special attention if your biological kids’ feelings don’t match yours.• Include biological kids in the adoption process and keep them informed of what’s going on.• Spend one-on-one time with each child

and parent.• Help biological child(ren) accept new siblings.• Allow children to voice their feelings and opinions and listen to them. Create a safe space by respecting what they say.• To facilitate bonding, keep communication

lines open, speak truthfully and provide fun family activities.• Help kids understand their own history and background.• Help kids process trauma, grief and loss, attachment and trust issues, keeping in mind the developmental level of the adopted child. Acknowledge that their pain is part of the healing and adoption process. Get professional support as needed.• Learn about the developmental level and background of your adopted child. Honor cultural or other differences.• Sandy Fowler, Clinical Post-Adoption Support Coordinator, Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, 545-8410 or 866-449-7262.She leads a support group for adoptive parents that meets at 10 a.m. the second Friday of each month at Green

Sage, 1800 Hendersonville Road, Asheville.• Susan Ward, Carolina Counseling & Parent

Support, carolinamountaincounseling.com• To help kids and parents respond to questions from peers, extended family and others, get the W.I.S.E. Up PowerBook, published by the Center for Adoption Support and Education, www.adoptionsupport.org

For the Compton family of Fairview, the decision to adopt didn’t happen overnight. While Joe Compton had thought about it for years, his wife, Heather, wasn’t sure.

“I was in the trenches of motherhood with three young children and just couldn’t see it,” says Heather. “But I did know that we had love in our hearts and we felt like we had more room to love someone who didn’t have a family.”

In time, and with repeated spiritual signs, including families she kept meeting who had adopted from other countries, she says, she felt ready to go for it.

They adopted two boys from Ethiopia — Carter and Truett, at ages 4 and 2 — four years ago, when their three biological children, Brantley, Coleman and Barret, were 8, 10 and 11.

For the Comptons, early preparation and discussion was key to making the transition smoother for the family.

“I had told the kids that if at any time they were feeling frustrated and/or needed to talk, that no matter what, they could come to us and we would listen,” Heather says. “We talked about how our family would change and how love doesn’t divide — it multiplies.”

Susan Ward is a local therapist and parent coach specializing in helping families with children who have issues related to trauma, attachment and adoption.

To help biological children adapt to adopted siblings, Ward suggests families “read books about adoption and adopted-bio families and role-play possible scenarios that might come up when the adopted child joins the family. One of the best ways to foster attachment and bonding among all family members is through laughter — play board games or put on dance music and get everyone laughing and dancing.”

“Be honest about differences but balance that by sharing each child’s strengths,” she adds. “Say things like, ‘Yes, that’s true that you two have different colored skin — you’re also different in that you’re great at building things and your sister is great at drawing.’”

The Comptons were also realistic with the children, explaining that it wouldn’t always be easy, Heather says. “We explained how just as there are days that all three of them get along, there are days when none of them do and that this would be the same, just with more children,” she says.

Unsealed birth records give adoptees peek at past

"The things that people take for granted are enormous, life-changing moments" for adoptees, said Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, a Chicago Democrat and adoptee who sponsored the Illinois law and still breaks down when discussing it.
Feigenholtz, who met her birth mother years ago, worked for more than a decade to open birth certificates in Illinois, which like nearly every other state had sealed such records from the 1940s through the 1980s. There are several reasons adoptees want access to those records, including learning medical histories crucial to determining health risks. Many adoptees believe they have a right to such a personal, intimate record.
Illinois is one of 11 states to have open birth certificates and one of nine to have unsealed them since 1999, according to the American Adoption Congress. And because of its size, the Prairie State has seen more adoptees get those papers than most. Still, the 8,800 is only 2.5 percent of the 350,000 Illinois adoptees' records that were sealed beginning in 1946.
In Oregon, which opened its records in 2000, 11,500, or nearly 11 percent of the 108,000 records sealed after 1957, have been requested. Alabama didn't seal 300,000 records until 1991, reopened them just nine years later, and 5,800 adoptees have requested them. Rhode Island reopened 24,000 records in 2012 after 68 years, and 759 people have laid claim to their birth certificates.
Some adoptive children have reunited with birth families without open-records laws. Public intermediary services, private businesses and volunteers help reunite willing adoptees and birth mothers, although sometimes it involves hundreds of dollars and no guarantee of success.
Jenny Spinner, who grew up in an adoptive home in Decatur with her twin sister, found her mother before the law changed. But Spinner, a 43-year-old mother, English professor and researcher in Philadelphia whose intrepid inquiries have prompted preparation of a book about the experience, is frustrated by the lack of documentation of her personal story. She still wanted her birth certificate for the emotional connection it brought.
"The paper that I've been looking for just to see all our names together in one space has still eluded me, outside of this birth certificate," Spinner said. "It's the only thing where her name is stamped on a document that has my birthdate. That proves it."
States generally had open birth records until the mid-20th Century when unwed motherhood became more stigmatized, said Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a not-for-profit, nonpartisan research and policy center.
Birth certificates often were stamped "illegitimate" and sealing them was thought to protect the baby, the adoptive family from intrusion and was even considered, in some circles, the cleanest break for a "maladjusted" mother to re-enter society and later marry.
Opponents contend birth mothers were promised privacy in perpetuity, which Donaldson Institute research has not been able to substantiate, and research shows both adopted children and the parents who gave them up want contact, Pertman said.
The trend is "toward greater honesty, greater openness," said Pertman, adding it's "way too slow."
In Pennsylvania, an adopted lawmaker has introduced legislation to open birth records there, and Illinois Rep. Ann Williams, an adoptee who was born in the Keystone state, traveled there to testify July 17 in favor of the bill. Williams, a Chicago Democrat whose district neighbors Feigenholtz's, told the committee the Illinois law brought "excitement, joy and fulfillment" to nearly 9,000 adoptees, but for her, it was "bittersweet, as I was not among them."
Dave Reynolds, a 46-year-old health care-plan operator from Deerfield, didn't seek his birth record until he met Feigenholtz, who encouraged him. He just spoke by phone about a month ago to his birth mother, who lives in another state and never told anyone in her family about her son.
"I'd love to meet my birth mom face-to-face. I'd love to give her a hug," Reynolds said. "I'd love to meet my half-brothers. That would be a neat moment. But that's on her timetable. If it never happens, then I'm just so thankful I had a chance to thank her."
The meetings can be just as wrenching and emotional for birth mothers, and many adoptees are reluctant to ask them to come forward and speak publicly. Nor is it always an easy process for the family that reared an adopted child.
Duffy's adoptive mother, who is ill with Alzheimer's, often talked with her daughter about finding her birth family. The process has been hard on her father, but "I'm not going anywhere," Duffy said.
"They were the people that put a Band-Aid on my knee when I scraped it. They're my family," she said. "It's just nice to start to get to know this person who gave so much up for me, who did such a selfless thing for me, giving me birth and bringing me into this world."

Children Needing Mentors in Lane County

Have you always wondered about becoming a mentor, but did not know if you would be a good match for a child? Now you don't have to! You can read short biographies of children waiting for mentors by visiting our website. We have boys and girls waiting in Lane County and beyond. Learn about mentor youth that share your interests by reading below!

Children Needing Mentors in Lane County

Connie* is a 16-year-old girl that is into soccer, volleyball and basketball. She enjoys being outside, and lives in the Cottage Grove area.  She likes to read and write. She expresses herself through her art work. She draws, paints, and does pottery. When the weather is bad she likes to watch movies, and arts and crafts. Connie is very sarcastic and adventurous. She would like to learn how to play the viola or the clarinet. During the holidays she enjoys being with her family. She likes all animals except horses. She lives with 3 dachshunds, and guinea pigs. When she grows up she wants to be either a vet tech or photographer. Connie would benefit from a female mentor who can help her transition into adulthood and teach her important life skills.       Peter* is a 15-year-old boy living in Springfield. Peter is a social and athletic teen, who's favorite sports team is the Ducks. He enjoys spending time with his brother and his friends, particularly when they are playing football or basketball. Peter likes fishing as well. Peter also enjoys studying the Bible and hopes to become a clergy member as an adult. Peter enjoys comedy and likes telling jokes; joking is a part of how he expresses himself! Peter is interested in learning about new activities, and likes to have meaningful conversations with individuals. He spends a lot of time with his brother, but would like guidance and support from a more experienced individual. Peter would like a male mentor who is easy to talk to. Mitchell* is a 12-year-old boy living in Springfield. Mitchell is looking for a mentor that loves to scooter! In his spare time Mitchell enjoys going to the skate park, playing basketball and soccer. His favorite types of movies are cartoon and action.  Mitchell's favorite food is pizza. Mitchell's favorite basketball teams are the Chicago Bulls and the LA Lakers. "Tyga" is Mitchell's favorite artist, he enjoys listening to rap music. If Mitchell had only a few wishes they would be to get a new scooter and to be on a basketball team. Mitchell's favorite chore is cleaning the living room. His least favorite chore is cleaning his bedroom. Dogs and ferrets are a few of Mitchell's favorite animals. Mitchell would like a male mentor who enjoys watching basketball and is an extrovert. Stephanie* a 13-year-old girl who lives in Eugene. She is shy at first, but opens up once she gets to know you. She is starting high school this year. Math is her favorite subject and she is proud of it. Stephanie likes to cook, dress up, play video games, and do outdoor activities like hide and seek, picnics and swimming. She also likes to just hang out. She is good at cooking French food and wants to go to Paris. Her favorite food is Chinese and she likes to go eat at Olive Garden. When it comes to music, Stephanie likes hip-hop and Bruno Mars, but not country or metal. She likes to read mystery romances. When she grows up, Stephanie wants to be a veterinarian, masseuse or a chef. Her hero is Wonder Woman because she is the only female superhero. For Halloween she wants to be the Queen of Hearts. She loves her dog Kammi and all animals. She would love to go horseback riding or see a tiger. Stephanie has had mentors in the past and wants to build a lasting relationship with someone that will be around long-term. Lance* is a very sweet little boy living in Veneta. In the fall he will be starting 3rd grade. He enjoys recess and is proud of his writing. His favorite football team is the Ducks. He enjoys playing kick ball, soccer, biking and football. He wants to learn how to play basketball, baseball and how to swim. When the weather is rainy he enjoys playing video games in his room (but no violent ones), watching movies, and wrestling. His favorite wrestler is John Cena. Grapes and Mexican food are his favorite things to eat. He likes to express himself through drawing and painting. Lance enjoys reading and is open to all kinds of books. He is very proud of is his ability to do a front flip and handstand on a trampoline. His favorite animals are dogs and cougars. If he could go anywhere he would go to the moon! He likes playing the guitar and listening to any kind of music. Lance would like to own his own drum set. He also enjoys candy and laughing.  When he grows up he wants to be a police officer. He lives with his aunt and so would like a male mentor he can spend some time with. Adam* is a 16-year-old boy living in Springfield. He loves horror movies! His favorite movies are about zombies, he especially enjoys the film "28 Days Later." Adam is very good around animals, he even has two guinea pigs! He enjoys learning about cars as well, and would appreciate a mentor who can teach him about such. Adam also loves fishing, video games, and has a great sense of humor!  Adam would like to spend time with his mentor out in the community just "hanging out." Adam is sarcastic, and would like a mentor who appreciates it. Adam would benefit from a mentor who understands physical disabilities, and can introduce Adam to new experiences.  Eddie* is in fourth grade and is a huge Ducks fan! He is very athletic and funny. He enjoys pizza, action movies, and wants to be a football player when he grows up. Eddie lives in Junction City, and would like a male mentor who shares his love of sports and is outgoing.  Eddie has a number of siblings, and would like a mentor to spend some one-on-one time with him.  Eddie is a dare devil, he wants to try skydiving and ziplining one day! Eddie describes himself as shy, and would like a mentor who is outgoing.  Eddie can have a male or female mentor. He is also a good brother, and is close with his sisters.  Tanner* is a fan of the Miami Heat basketball team. He loves pork chops and lasagna. The Vampire Buffet is his favorite restaurant. Tanner is 15 years old and currently lives in Lane County. If Tanner had a free day he would visit Hawaii or Dubai. Tanner likes any Adam Sandler movies, and he loves to laugh. When Tanner is older he would like to be an architect or an actor. Tanner works very hard on making blueprints and is most proud of art. Language Arts is his favorite subject in school. When asked if he could pick three words to describe himself Tanner chose: smart, athletic, and driven. Tanner would benefit from a male mentor who can help him through his teen years.   Samuel* is a 16-year-old boy living in Eugene. He loves the culinary arts, especially making cream puffs. When Samuel is older he would like to join the military and become a military chef. Samuel enjoys swimming and boating during the summer time. Samuel loves to read. A few of his favorite books are the Hunger Games series, Aragon and the Hobbit. Samuel likes to play video games, his favorite indoor game is Pathfinder. Thanksgiving is Samuel's favorite holiday because of the food, he especially enjoys the stuffing. Samuel likes Pink Floyd and would like to learn to play the guitar. Family Guy, South Park and American Dad are a few of Samuel's favorite TV shows. Samuel was excited when the Ravens won the Super bowl, they are his favorite football team. His favorite college football team is the Oregon Ducks. Samuel would like a male or female mentor that is kind and can help him with his homework. Samantha* is a 13-year-old girl who lives in Springfield, and has a variety of interests. She likes to draw, and is a talented artist. Samantha also enjoys watching TV and playing video games, particularly Mario games. She likes to cook as well, and her favorite food is chicken. When Samantha is not cooking, she likes to go to Five Guys Burgers and Fries for a burger. Samantha is very funny, she frequently makes herself and her sisters laugh. Samantha does not often spend time outdoors, but when she does she likes swimming and playing basketball with her friends. Samantha loves to shop and try different hairstyles as well as listen to Justin Bieber. Samantha appreciates music, and would like to learn how to play the guitar, the piano, and the recorder. Samantha would like to visit Africa one day, and hopes to see a tiger. She would like a female mentor who likes humor and shopping. Travis* is a 7-year-old boy living in Eugene. Travis loves to play football and wrestle with his friends. Travis loves eating ice cream cake, pudding and pizza. McDonalds, Taco Bell and Subway are a few of his favorite places to eat. Travis would love to become a Navy Seal when he gets older as well as a football player. Travis enjoys watching Power Rangers and likes all kid movies. Math and recess are Travis' favorite subjects in school. Going on car rides and wrestling are a few of his favorite activities. Travis loves animals, his favorite animal is a chicken.  Something Travis would like to learn how to do would be back flips, he would also like to try fishing.  Travis is most proud of his dirt biking and normal biking skills. Travis describes himself as sometimes being shy at first, he would like his mentor to be good at bumper cars and fishing. If Travis could have any pet he would want to have a lion. Travis would benefit from a male or female mentor who is active. Jeremy* is a very intelligent 14-year-old boy who will be transitioning into high school next year. He lives in Springfield, and likes to ride his bike around his neighborhood. Jeremy loves baseball, video games, reading, math, and science. One of Jeremy's favorite activities is going to PK Park to watch Emeralds games. Jeremy likes going to the beach and fishing, as well as swimming, hiking, and watching Duck games. His favorite kinds of movies include action, comedies, and family films. He enjoys the occasional horror movie, but comedies are his favorite. When Jeremy grows up he hopes to join the military and then become a member of the Secret Service. Before doing so, he wants to attend college at either Oregon State University or the University of Oregon. His favorite kinds of music include rock, country, rap, and classical. Jeremy is very active, funny, and smart, and would appreciate a male mentor who will spend time with him out in the community and help him through his high school years. Trentin* is a 13-year-old middle school student living in Springfield. He really enjoys hunting, fishing, woodshop, and the outdoors. He likes school, but was disappointed when woodshop classes were cancelled in his school district. Trentin is a compassionate kid who like spending time outdoors and being amongst animals. He admires Steve Irwin, and even owns his own snake! When the weather is bad and he cannot spend time outside, he likes to play with his pet snake, Lizzy. He also likes to spend his time watching old horror movies, which he finds both funny and frightening. Trentin enjoys reading Steven King novels, and expresses himself through drawing. He also likes to watch football games and hopes to refine his hunting and fishing skills. Trentin is bothered by people who do not appreciate what they have and "complain too much." When he becomes upset or irritated, he usually just walks away from the situation and spends some time alone. Trentin would like a male mentor who enjoys the outdoors, and is not afraid of snakes. Heather* is an energetic 10-year-old living in Veneta. She enjoys sports of all kinds. In the fall she would like to either play soccer or football. Her favorite team is the Ducks. She like jumping on the trampoline and playing wall ball. Heather has a hamster and would like a dog. She enjoys school and her favorite subject is art, specifically drawing hearts. "Total Drama" and "My name is Earl" are examples of the television shows that Heather likes to watch. If she could go anywhere she would go to Antarctica. One of her favorite places to go is to the mall. She enjoys shopping for shoes and toys and that is where she got her ears pierced. She likes swimming and playing on the playground. Some things that she is interested in learning are gymnastics and how to play the drums. Her favorite color is turquoise and her favorite food is bean and cheese burritos. When she grows up she want to be a lawyer.     Hazel* is a 10-year-old tomboy who is interested in learning about "girly" activities. She lives in Springfield and is the youngest of 4 sisters. She enjoys camping, tree climbing, and being outdoors. She also likes to watch wrestling! She has many pet cats, and is very affectionate with them. Hazel can be shy when you first meet her. Hazel also loves to cook, and experiments by making different kinds of cookies. She would like a mentor who enjoys shopping, and who can spend some one on one time with her. Hazel can be very rambunctious, and would be well served by a patient and understanding mentor. Mattie* is an active 7-year-old living in Springfield. She plays baseball, softball and will be in Girl Scouts when school starts in the fall. Sometimes she watches sports. She wants to learn to swim and loves to play with dogs. In the winter she enjoys drinking hot coco and watching movies like "Rapunzel", other Disney movies and comedies. She also enjoys watching musicals, singing and dancing. Her favorite book is "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." When with friends she likes to relax. If she had a day to do anything she would go to the beach and run in the wet sand. Mattie enjoys theatre and math. She has a very active imagination. Her favorite food is pizza. If she could have two wishes she would be a bird so that she could fly or be other different animals so she could run and be free. She wants to try horseback riding, and hopes to do so with her mentor. She has puppies, a frog, bunnies, and guinea pigs. Mattie enjoys being around people who tells jokes and play around.       *Names have been changed to protect identities

What Does It Take to be a Mentor?

Mentors can come from all walks of life: they can be young adults, grandparents, moms, dads, students, teachers, blue collar workers, and more! If you have the passion to help a foster child and want to make a positive impact in someone's life, you can be a mentor. Mentor requirements for A Family For Every Child's Mentor Program include: 1. 21 years of age or older 2. pass a fingerprint criminal background check 3. participate in an in home interview 4. attend a mentor orientation 5. spend 10 hours a month with your mentee 6. commit to at least one year If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please fill out a volunteer application. If you have any questions about becoming a mentor, or other ways you can help a foster child, please email the Permanency Director: caitlin@afamilyforeverychild.org.