Messages By: i10mama

We are adoptive parents here in CA.  We started doing shelter care and foster care after I stopped working. we live here in Blythe.  Our  town is small, rural farming community. We have CASA's trained here that are NOT used and need to be. My experience about CASA,  is they work for the child. What is best for them, Not what is best for the Social worker or easier. I have  children that have been placed in our home that unfortunately should have been in the system a long time ago. I have out of our own family finances bought Christmas, drove as far as 300 miles to food banks to help,  Every Christmas eve our family goes around to several of these homes and children that wold not otherwise have anything make sure they do. I am only one women doing what i can. Sometimes I wonder if I am straight crazy, But when a child comes up to me at school 6 months later and gives  me a hug, Its all worth it. We have only one grocery store in this town. Dentists and therapists are about 100 miles one way and most of these children need it. As foster parents that burden is placed upon us.  We must at all times keep  all size clothes, back packs, tooth brushes, shoes you never know when your going to get a child. I have worked my tail off to get foster homes here so children do not have to leave the area. Most of these children have never even been out of this town.  CASA's are great if the Social workers here in the Desert region would use them BUT they don;t.  We need to address the issues and as a system we are broken. we need help. We have people here willing to help but we need resources and quick.  Our adoptive son, Our son Zachary, is amazing he shares his home his toys and his parents with these children. Hopefully we are instilling some morales and ethics and showing him that ALL Children have the right to be safe, have food and shelter.  I will continue to be child advocate as long as we can.  These are our future and we own them that. The system ahs to change and start making these parents accountable too. We make it too easy. We provide transportation, counseling  food, clothing and help and they still hurt abuse neglect these children. Fifty percent of all children in the foster care in the United States live here in California. The average time a child is put back in the system after they are reunified is less than six months. That is horrible. And children are being left in the system longe than  what the Law states they should be or are allowed to be.

People wake up, WE all are accountable for these children!!!