Foster Care

Mr. Successful

adminn — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 01:52:00 -0400

Anyone who's ever been to a wedding knows not everybody can stand up in front of a roomful of people and just talk. Anthony Pico discovered by accident, at 15, that he has a gift for doing that. He's 18 now, and he's become so well known as a public speaker on the subject of foster care, which he knows well, he was appointed to a blue… more

Ready or Not?

Articles — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 16:20:02 -0400

Victor slouches into a bustling courtroom at Los Angeles County Children's Court. He would be tall, if he stood up straight, and broad, if his shoulders didn't follow his eyes to the floor. He doesn't look sullen or defiant. He just looks like a big kid, humble and out of place in this room full of busy grown-ups. When the judge glances up from her papers and smiles at him, he smiles back, just a bit.

At 19, Victor has already lived a life that takes a few tellings to get straight. His father has been in prison.… more

Fostering Progress

Articles — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500

What prevents the U.S. child welfare system from doing all it can to protect children and support families? Complex social problems? Insufficient funding? Staff turnover? The truth is, the inability to address these barriers is rooted in a much larger problem--a chronic lack of public will. Despite its best efforts, child welfare faces daunting challenges in making policymakers and the public understand and commit to fixing the system.

Child welfare agencies and service providers rarely have the time, expertise, or capital to invest in strategic communications that promote their successes. And media coverage rarely moves beyond crisis-driven headlines to a… more

Foster-Care Inflexibility Hurts State's Children

Articles — Wed, 03 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500

For Cora Featherson , a 54-year-old Memphis woman who is raising her granddaughter and six nieces, nephews and cousins, taking care of family is more than a responsibility.

"If you can find room in your house and your heart, you have to help," says Featherson. "I've come this far, and I can't let these kids down."

Since she took in her first child almost 20 years ago, Featherson has worked hard to keep her family out of foster care, relying on her modest income, occasional help from her church and monthly food stamps.

Although all seven children qualify for Families First, Tennessee's cash… more

Achieving Permanency through Subsidized Guardianship

Articles — Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Anne Yates has been caring for her 16-year-old grandson, Ramon, since her daughter began struggling with a heroine addiction three years ago. When she first got the call from Child Protective Services asking her to look after the troubled teen, she didn't hesitate for a minute. Over the years, it's become clear that her daughter isn't getting better. Mrs. Yates is committed to take care of her grandson as long as he needs her. Ramon wants to stay with her, too, but is adamant that he doesn't want to sever his relationship with his mom. It… more