Foster parents make valuable contribution
Most mornings, upon arising, I sit with my cup of coffee and read the paper.
I go straight to the sports section to check out my teams.
On the first page, there are lots of large headlines. The print seems to get smaller and harder to read the further I go into the paper.
Right on the tail end of the sports section is the obituary column where, in the very smallest of print, they list the names of folks who have died. Occasionally there will be some larger print and maybe a picture, words about a person who was special for some reason.
I would like to think that when I die, when my name is finally printed in that section, I would be recognized for something special that I did, some contribution that I made to my fellow man.
I think that most of us would like to be recognized for such a contribution. And if we have any doubt about what we should do, we can look in Scripture, where it tells us that orphans and widows should be high on our list of those whom we can help.
Down through history there have been attempts by individuals to do just that. They built poorhouses and orphanages.
Today most of our group homes are far better, but a simple fact still remains: With so many children to care for, they have a hard time offering love and compassion to the children who have just been separated from their parents for one reason or another.
In Washington state on any given day there are 11,000 children who fall into this category. What is even worse, there are far fewer foster homes, places to care for these youngsters in their moment of tragedy.
The state has recently focused on improving its foster care system. Numerous private agencies have pitched in to help with the overflow.
In the past four years, there have been some wonderful changes to get more citizens involved. Foster care training has been upgraded and modernized to streamline the process of becoming a foster family.
Here is how a child comes into foster care.
The state Legislature has authorized state social workers to intervene to protect children who are abused or neglected by their parents. If the worker concludes that remaining in the home endangers the child, the worker files a petition with the Juvenile Court for an order transferring legal custody to the state.
If the Juvenile Court judge agrees, the child is placed either with a relative or with foster parents licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services. The DSHS social workers attempt to provide services to the parents so their children can be returned safely to them.
If the parents don’t avail themselves of the services, or if services aren’t sufficient to protect the children, the Juvenile Court can eventually terminate the parents’ rights and free the child for adoption.
Becoming a foster parent is not only a paid position but has lots of intangible benefits.
Not long ago my wife and I received our foster care license and have been active ever since with kids who need our help.
And I no longer focus on the small print in the obituaries. I am busy serving as a foster dad, making a contribution.
This morning I’m also sharing the sports section with a 15-year-old boy who also likes the Mariners and Seahawks.
It’s a great job, and somebody gets to do it.