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Foster Care Success Story: Profile of New Jersey Foster Care (NJFC) Scholar, Kaitlyn Radauscher

There are two things you can do when life throws its worst at you – give up or survive. Against all odds, Kaitlyn Radauscher chose the latter; she graciously shared her foster care success story with us.

kaitlyn

When she was 16 years old and a sophomore in high school, Kaitlyn lost her father to suicide. Devastated, she was unable to turn to her biological mother for the comfort and care she needed. She had to move out of her home and in with her aunt and uncle. It was then she became a foster child.

“When I first went into foster care, I wasn’t happy about it,” Kaitlyn says. “I never imagined my life to turn out the way it did. I was a little bitter inside because none of my friends had to deal with the same stuff I did.”

Despite the tragic change in her life, Kaitlyn continued to stay positive by surrounding herself with loved ones and continuing her routine of hanging out, going to work and attending school where she continued to excel. Continue reading →

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Adoption Story: Heidi Davis and Sharia Renee Davis

Heidi Davis didn’t become a foster parent with any intention of adoption.

She already had three daughters of her own. Still – the Branchburg resident wanted to help children in need so she, along with her husband Roger, went through the licensing process and opened their home.

Adoption StoryBut if you asked them if they ever intended on adding a member to the family permanently, they’d flatly tell you no.

Sharia changed all that.

The then 16 month old girl was placed with Davis on February 28, 2012. Continue reading →

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Should Gay Couples Be Allowed To Adopt?

Should gay couples be allowed to adopt a child from foster care?

For some in Congress, the answer is no. Two congressional Republicans have introduced the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act, which is aimed as an effort to protect adoption and foster care providers from an “anti-faith bias.”

should gay couples be allowed to adoptBut according to critics, the bill, which was introduced to Congress in late July, is really aimed at nullifying “state-level laws that require child welfare agencies to let gay couples adopt children.” Continue reading →

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National Adoption Day

For some, it’s just another day in November.

national adoption dayBut for others, it’s one of the most important days of their lives, a moment they’ll treasure and think back upon with tears welling up in their eyes. For parents, it’s a day when their families become complete; for children, it’s a day when they finally become part of a loving family.

It’s November 22, National Adoption Day.

Founded in 2000 by a coalition of national partners, National Adoption Day has helped about 50,000 children move from foster care to a forever family.

According to the National Adoption Day Coalition, the number of events grew from 17 in 2001, to 120 in 2003 and to about 400 events in 2011 in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Continue reading →

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Why Relatives Choose KLG Over Adoption: The Pros and Cons — Choosing What’s Best For You

Family is arguably the most important institution on the planet. Family members are the ones responsible for molding one another into productive citizens in society. They nurture and teach their children to become independent and effective so they can in turn nurture future generations and make the world a better place to live. Sometimes, however, biological parents are not the ones who raise their child. In fact, many children who are not reared by their biological parents are brought up by other members of the family or by loved ones who are close to the family. However, many relatives, when faced with permanency options, decide not to adopt. We are going to discuss why relatives choose KLG over adoption, the pros and cons and choosing what’s best for you as a kinship resource parent.

kinship-newsletterAn article written by Rob Geen called The Evolution of Kinship Care Policy and Practice suggests that relatives are the main caregivers for a large amount of children who have been displaced, and kinship resource homes have increased over the years. The definition of “kin” varies depending on the state in which you reside. Continue reading →

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Support For Prospective Adopters From Foster Care In NJ

You may have been fostering for years but never considered adoption. A child in foster care comes into your home and takes a place in your heart forever. After being in your care for a while, you find out that he will soon be legally free and available for adoption. You know you want to adopt him, but you may be feeling overwhelmed and not sure of what steps to take. What do you do? When it comes to adoption, like countless things in life, there are many variables to consider.

Support For Prospective Adopters From Foster Care In NJAccording to Adopt America Network (AAN, there are approximately 130,000 children in care that are waiting for a forever home. Nationwide, the basic steps for adopting children from foster care include completing an initial application, participating in a home study, creating a match with an individual child, placing the child in the home and, lastly, the approval of adoption in the court of law. Of course, this is just a brief summary of the adoption process as it goes into great detail and varies depending on the state. Continue reading →