Fostering Connections!

The Elephant in the Room

2011-11-17T12:54:00.000-08:00

Gary, the president of OCJ Kids, comes into the office this morning from a breakfast about adoption. At this breakfast they are told that there are over 11,000 children in foster care her in Arizona, of this 11,000 children there are 350 children ready for adoption. Did you catch that 350 of 11,000 are ready to be adopted. I think it is great to to get these kids a family to call their own, but what about the other 10,750 kids still in foster care. What happens to them?

Yes there are Foster Families who take some of these children in, but the number of foster families are dwindling here in Arizona. So what happens to these 10, 750 kids that are not able to be adopted?
They get put into group homes (mini orphanages). A house located in neighborhoods just like yours. They are put with about 9 other kids around their age, with a house manager, an assistant manager and an overnight staff. If they have siblings, depending on their age they may get to live with them, or they may be split up depending on space available. So who helps with their home work? Who asks them about their day? Who helps them dream for the future? Who helps them fight for their future? What can be done with this Elephant in the Room? This 10,750 kids without the opportunity of a loving family, at this time.

OCJ Kids has provided individuals the opportunity to be that person who can give hope to an orphan of the living. It's as easy as a visit once a week to once a month.
Recently, one of the girls I have visited over the past 2 years, came to speak at one of our events. To hear in her words the impact of a weekly visit had on her touch my heart. To know that these young people have someone who is willing to come see them and cares about them means a lot to them. They may not show it all the time but hope grows with the smallest of kindness and caring.

Just this past week, we went to a shelter and did makeovers and a photo shoot with the teen girls there. One of the girls, we were told, has a tendency to growl and hiss at people and sometimes tries to bite them. I know that can seem scary, but to me I think what must have happened to her that she acts this way.
the exciting thing about this story is this young lady did not growl, did not hiss, did not bite, but allowed college students to do her hair and makeup then showed us her beautiful smile as we took her picture.

If you are not able to foster or adopt a child so in need of a loving family, then you can be that person who visits them where they live, that person who gives them hope, that person who shows them they are special enough to be loved.

If you would like to get involved please contact us at OCJ Kids at info@ocjkids.org and we will get you connected to change a young persons life.

Calling all Heroes

2011-10-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

The last time we were here, I told you about the pizza parties we had the privilege to share with some amazing young people with lots of dreams. With the Back to School Party slowly fading into the past we want to help these kids remember their dreams and help them start reaching for them. We at OCJ Kids accomplish that thru our volunteers and Life Coaches that meet with the young people on a regular basis.

I am in the process of reading a book called "Orphans of the Living" by Jennifer Toth. This is a hard book to read as you walk with kids as they walk thru the foster care system. Seeing the affects of abuse they have suffered and how easy it is to stop dreaming and just live to survive. Then I think about the girls I work with every week and it makes me wonder what happened to them to bring them to were they are at now in their lives. Whatever the reason for them being where they are, it is my mission in life to help them find their dreams and be a tool to help them achieve those dreams.

But I am one person, and I am glad to say that OCJ Kids has a group of volunteers that are going into the homes on a regular basis, helping foster kids reach for their dreams. One area where we need more committed volunteers is in our Life Coaches. We have a small handful of caring adults who have been trained and have been connected with a young person. these Life Coaches are committed to these young people to help them walk thru the transition of aging out of the foster care system into independent living. These are my true HEROES!!

OCJ Kids is currently looking for more Heroes, Life Coaches. We have young people aging out of the foster care system on a daily basis, most of them with out the support structure they need to succeed. Will you be a hero for one of these young adults? Will you be a mentor to some kids who are hurting?

I am looking for 2 men, who will be a mentor to 2 young men who desperately need a strong male role model in their lives. Is that you?

To help you get started OCJ Kids has a 101 Volunteer Orientation coming up on Oct 29th at our offices from 9am to 1pm. We also have a 102 Life Coach Training on Oct 29th from 3pm to 5pm at the same location.

If you are interested please RSVP to shevaun@ocjkids.org and we will get you registered.

Thank you to all of my Heroes out there, you are greatly appreciated. Keep up the great work!!

Until next time,

Shevaun

A Time of Celebration

2011-09-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

The beginnings of Dreams...

One of the things I enjoy about what I do is getting the opportunity to celebrate with the group homes we are connected with. We have five homes who were chosen as the top five for the Dream Board Competition at our recent Tools 4 Success Back to School Party. The winners receive a pizza pater at Peter Piper Pizza for pizza and games.

On Sept 14th, Tammie and Gary had the pleasure on celebrating with one of the winning homes. They all had a great time. Even better, they were able to join in a birthday celebration for one of the girls. I love it when things like this happen!
This past week I had that opportunity to host a teen girls home . We were joined by a group of volunteers from Family Life Church, who are getting connected with this girls home. So the ladies had an opportunity to meet the girls and the house manager had the opportunity to meet the ladies. Everyone had a great time. One of the girls turned to me and said "Thank you for getting us out of the house. This is so much fun and a lot better than what we would have been doing, nothing"

OCJ Kids has two more parties scheduled and one we are waiting to schedule. Can't wait!

How do you celebrate with those you love? What are somethings you celebrate? I would love to hear the small and big events that you celebrate with the ones you love.

CPS Squeeze

2011-09-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

I remember when the stats for the number of children in foster care were in the 9,000's for Arizona. I thought that was bad, then Gary, OCJ Kids' President and Founder, comes into the office and informs us that there over 10,000 children in the foster care system in Arizona. Well, just today I read an article on AZCentral.com and the new number of children in Foster Care as of June, 2011 there are now 11,082 children in foster care.
The article "CPS Squeeze: More Children in need, Fewer Foster Homes" help to reinforce what we at OCJ Kids have been seeing in the agencies we are connected with. Group homes filled to capacity and in some cases over full, babies coming into the homes at two days old, and all this leads to tension in the homes.

Just this past week, I had the wonderful opportunity to introduce a new volunteer to a teen girls home out in Tempe. It was very exciting!! We played Uno and got to know each other, then in the middle of the game, one of the young ladies had enough of the personality of another young lady in the house. What happened next could have turned out worse if it wasn't for the staff on duty at the time, she handled the situation beautifully. There was almost a fight at the house that night. I think one of the great things that happened that night was that the volunteer was not scared away. She is going back to continue working with these girls. To help build up their self esteem and develop life skills as they prepare to enter the real world.

The need is great right now here in Arizona for foster parents and volunteers to work with these young people, who are obviously hurting on the inside to be so angry on the outside.

Will you be one who helps these young people? Will you help OCJ Kids reach out to this lost and hurting generation that are being passed around from place to place?

These kids NEED YOU! Check out our website http://www.ocjkids.org/ to find out how you can help.

Take action today! Get involved!

Fostering Connections Blog is Back!

2011-08-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

It is good to be back with you again. Wonderful things have been happening with OCJ Kids over this past year. We have formed new partnerships with more businesses and churches. With these new connections we have been able to do that much more for the the foster children who live in mini orphanges we are connected with. So far this year we have impacted over 1300 foster children!!! And the year is not over yet!
Our most recent event was our 6th Annual Tools 4 Success Back to School Party. It was an amazing day with over 300 kids in attendance. During the event the kids created amazing Dream Boards and were inspired by two wonderful guest speakers Amen Iseghohi and Alejandra Paredes. After the event was over the kids received a new backpack and school supplies to help get their school year off on the right track. I was overwhelmed by the new volunteers we had this year.  We had over 90 volunteers for the entire day!!
Each one impacting the lives of the over 300 kids present at the event and most likely were impacted by the kids themselves.

Also this summer, we started a great partnership with Western Destinations to provide a Cowboy Camp for 250 foster kids!  Everyone who had the opportunity to attend the overnight camp, still talk about their experience to this day. Between the ranglers and the horses, these kids had an opportunity they will never forget. We can't wait for next summer so we can do it again!

With our volunteer base growing we are able to reach more of these young people in the mini orphanages where they live. To help them prepare for the little and big things that life throws in their way. More and more homes are being connected with volunteers and mentors, but there is still more homes that need to be connected. I had the opportunity to visit a home the other day to drop off a book I had for a 2 year old little boy. As I was leaving, one of his house mates asked if I could have lunch with him on the following Monday at school, because it was his birthday.   I am not sure what his story is, but this young man age 9 or 10 asking a complete stranger to join him for lunch for his birthday, broke my heart. I had to tell him that would not be possible at this time. The small needs of these kids are great and most can be met with a training and an hour or two a month.
Will you join us? Check out our website http://www.ocjkids.org/ or contact me at shevaun@ocjkids.org to see how you can get conencted.

I have a question for you who are reading this, what do you want to read when you visit this blog? Let me know. Thanks for reading!

Getting a Home

2010-05-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

One young lady I know, has been struggling for the past few months. She has been wanting to give up and not deal with anything. It has been a challenge to keep her motivated to follow through and finish things. She is tired of being in group homes. She is tired of not having a place to call home. She is tired of not having a life like everyone else she knows at school. So much that she wants to quit school and just get her GED so she can get her life started.
Recently, she had a visit from a potential foster mom who has been working on getting licensed to provide a permanent home for this young lady. These past few months have not been easy for either of them as this young lady is just tired. Back to the visit, the potential foster mom presented the opportunity to move in with her within the next month. Gave her the opportunity to have a permanent home, with the stipulation that she does not drop out of school, but gets her diploma.
After speaking with this young lady she made her decision, to move in. Once the decision was made, with the stipulations and all, her countenance changed. The idea that finally she would not be living in a group home was setting in and brought an attitude change and a smile to her face. Excitement for a new beginning, with whatever it brought with it. She is leaving the group homes before she turns 18!!!!

I can't explain the change in this young lady justly. Tears come to my eyes just thinking about the difference in her just seconds after she made the statement she is going to live with this foster mom. It was night and day.
these kids need homes! The importance of knowing you are going to be moved again, being able to normal.

These kids like this young lady need your help! check out how you can get involved http://www.ocjkids.org/ . Become a mentor, a life coach, participate in big events. Get Connected!

New Beginnings!

2010-02-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

Last week I got a call from one of our mentors asking for resources for the young lady she is working with.
This young lady aged out of foster care last August and was becoming a negative statistic.
Then something happened! After speaking to this young woman and trying to get thru that we found a program that can help her, but she has to apply herself. I want to be honest with you, I did not have much faith in this young lady to take initiative and I was hoping for persistence from her mentor.
We I got the greatest news in a long time. This young lady not only filled out the necessary paperwork, are you ready for this one?? She then called the organization that can help her and made an appointment. I want to make sure you caught that. SHE called and made the appointment. When I heard that I nearly started crying.

I have not heard if she was accepted into this program but we are planning a celebration dinner for the 3 of us to celebrate her initiative to make the call. To some people that may be something small, but for this young lady (and many like her) it is something big!!!

This is an example of the importance of mentors, someone to walk with with these young people who may not have the support from any where else and just need that extra push to get motivated.

There are many teens like this young lady who need someone to walk with them, are you one of them?
If you said yes, please email me at shevaun@offcampusjams.org. I would love to get you connected with one of them, to see them succeed!

Catching Up!

2010-01-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

So many things to talk about. So let me start with an update of the young lady that AWOLed. she is back at the home and getting ready to have a baby and very soon. Tammie has been joining me at the house on Mondays to help this young lady walk thru this time and have a healthy delivery of this beautiful little man who is coming into this world.
Let me back up a bit and share with you the reason this young lady came back. She was scared to give birth and wanted to be safe. So she made the choice to leave the boyfriend and her mom and come back to the group home, where she feels safe. Tammie says, it is the nature of the expectant mother to find a safe place as she gets closer to delivering. I am just glad she was able to come back. (more later on this subject). Now she is back and her face does not have the stress lines as they did when she first got back to the house. She is working with Tammie, a Doula, and wanting to remember this time with pictures of her belly. I am thankful she now has an opportunity to have a wonderful experience of giving birth.

Onto another story, you know the more later :-).
This week I had the opportunity to into one of the shelters we are in association with. this shelter is not down town, it is not a big building, but it is in a neighborhood just like yours. It is a safe place for teens and children are placed for a short time while other arrangements are made. Sometimes this is the only safe place these kids know. this particular house was for teen girls and the stories of these young ladies will break your heart. They come in with nothing and get a bed. not only to they get a bed but they get the opportunity to experience a safe home. As we were talking with the house manager she told me the story of one of the young ladies at the house. She is the oldest of her family and was the caregiver to her young siblings. Mom was not capable of be that person. Because of an incident she was removed from her siblings and placed in this shelter. On this 16 year old's bed you will find 3 little baby dolls, all gently wrapped in their blankets and safely placed in a safe place on the bed. This is the only was she knows how to deal with this nurturing instinct she has now that she is not with her siblings.
Another story we were told, was about another young lady who decided to leave, because space is so limited her bed was filled quickly. Soon the house manager received a phone call from this young lady who wanted to come back. The house manager had to tell her there was no room, she would have to wait. Sometimes they would have to wait in juvienile hall until a bed opens up.

The number of kids are growing and the beds available are not enough to provide places for all of them. there is a need out there. a need for beds, for homes, for caring people who will be a friendly face, a family, a helping hand. Some of the kids have nothing, not even shoes.

What can you do to help out?

The start of a New Year!!!

2010-01-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

Last Month, one of the young ladies I have been working with decided to AWOL after we found out that she was not turning 18 but 17 years old. It was a sad day when I was told that she left. Iit made me start thinking of ways to change what I am doing? What impact am I making? How can I effectively help facilitate a mind change in the teens I work with?
These fantastic ladies have so much potential that some of them never grab a hold of. It is time, now that I have the relationships, it is now time to talk about the hard stuff. It is time to help them start thinking of their future. Even if they get angry on the inside because they don't want to deal. It is Time!!!

I got word today that the young lady who AWOL ed is coming back!!! I am excited!!! I still have the opportunity to help facilitate change!!

Stay tuned for updates. It is a new year and I am determined to see these young people succeed!

One Bright Star!

2009-12-17T14:43:00.000-08:00

For the past three years OCJ has joined with the church I attend Fountain of Life International to provide a family Christmas Experience for the foster children we work with. It may be a busy time, the days approaching the event but it is totally worth the hours. Hours of matching gifts with names and ages of young people. Some we have met before and others we only know their age and gender. The whole time while putting gifts together, I am praying that God shows me what they need and like. My goal is for each young person to get something that fits with them. This year was a bit easier with some of the gifts because I have met more of the kids we are giving gifts to.
Sunday morning on the day of the event, I was finishing wrapping the gifts and getting things ready. As I was wrapping one of the boys homes presents, some of the items got a bit mixed up and I was not sure what I had done foe each boy. So I fixed as best as I remembered and prayed that each got what they needed and wanted.
the Christmas party was a fun event of bowling and fellowship with the kids. Because we are working with group homes and things change all the time, we had to search and find the gifts of some of the kids that came with another house. That part was a bit crazy, but part of working with group homes. Everyone got their presents, and I started to mingle with the different homes. One of the boys in a home got a journal and pen and was almost in tears because that is what he is interested in and he couldn't believe that we knew what to give him.
Monday as we (the OCJ Staff) were discussing the event, it was told about a young man who lost his mp3 player a few days earlier. At the party he received a new mp3 player and he started to cry. I heard that I have to say that even though we may not know every one of the kids, God does and he cares for each one. he knows their needs and if we listen we can help meet their needs.

Thanks for sharing these young people with me and have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Living Without

2009-12-07T14:09:00.000-08:00

Sometimes words fail me as I try to express what I see.
Today I had the opportunity to drop off a beautiful 9 ft Christmas tree to one of the shelters we work with.
I was not away of the how different a shelter was from a group home. The shelter is supposed to be temporary until the child is placed with a family or in a group home.
When a child arrives at the shelter, they have nothing, no family, no clothes, nothing, just what they are wearing at the time. Their rooms are bare, just something else to tell them they have nothing. Nothing that reminds them that there is hope, that they can dream. Nothing but blank walls and no doors.

This just reminds me of the need. These young people need people they can count on. People to help change a house to a home.
Is that person you? Not sure? Here are a few steps to see if this is a fit for you.

Volunteering

The first step requires in an honest self evaluation to determine the amount and depth of your involvement. Ask yourself, “How do I want to get involved?” The answer to this question will assist you identifying the amount of time and effort you are able to provide within the time frame of your current work and personal life schedule.
–        What are your strengths?
–        What are your passions?
–        What does your current schedule allow?
–        What can I do to make the most impact?
An honest evaluation of these questions and your ability to identify these areas of involvement will be every foster care and every non-profit agency’s greatest ally. The goal is to match your passions and strength with the agency of your choice or individual child’s greatest corresponding need. This will also keep you from over committing, leaving a lack in services provided, resulting in a bad experience for everyone involved. The reality is that the need always outweighs the availability of caring adult volunteers, resulting in volunteers being stretched to thin or placed in an area you feel uncomfortable in or unqualified for. Be upfront in communicating, this is where I would like to get involved and the amount of time I have to volunteer.

Sound like something you are interested contact us at ocj1@offcampusjams.org.

Thanksgiving Holiday

2009-12-01T10:16:00.000-08:00

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone. This year I had the opportunity to attend 3 Thanksgiving dinners.
The 1st dinner was held at my church with wonderful group homes in attendance. It was a great night of food and family game time. The noise level was so high, you had to leave the room to hear yourself think :-).
It was a great night!

The 2nd Thanksgiving dinner was a little smaller at a club house with a group of friends wanting to get involved with our group home families. We had a great time of movies, food, billiards, and fire pits. I met some amazing young ladies that are new the group home family. The evening was enjoyed by all.

The 3rd was with my family on Thanksgiving day.A fun time playing games and eating turkey :-)

How was your Thanksgiving?

Dealing with Loss

2009-11-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

Last night as I go to pick up the young lady I have been working with, I notice that she is crying.
I find out that one of babies in the house has been placed with a foster family in Tuscon. She will be leaving today. Exciting news for this little one, hard news for those who have seen her grow and helped take care of her for the past year and a half.
This may not be the loss due to death , but it is loss do to separation. It can have the same affect.
These kids deal with this continually. One person moves in, they are there for a while then they are gone.
When this is all you know, some get numbed by the process and feel nothing, the lucky ones feel every hurt and learn that loving people is okay even when we don't have them around.

hard stuff to deal with at a young age.

Looking Back

2009-11-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

I have been looking back and have realized that I have been going to this particular home of young women, every week, for a year and a half now. I have had the opportunity to speak into the lives of 13 young ladies and 19 young ones during this time. It is amazing how fast time goes by. In a year and a half there have been 32+ kids come thru this one house. Some stay a few years until the age out, some are there for just a few weeks, some get transferred to other group homes for one reason or another.
These 13 young ladies, with their babies, have left an impression in my heart. Some I have maintained communication with as they have aged out of the system. Some I can not find or do not have a way to communicate with. They all have their stories and all are unique and special. I can't wait to hear about the great things they do.
I hear from the staff at the house that the girls look forward to my coming. They get their chores done so they can participate in whatever we do that night. It doesn't matter what we do, color, play games, exercise, paint, create, talk, watch a movie, swim, carve pumpkins, decorate for the holidays, and the list goes on. They just know I care enough to come and so they look forward to it.

What difference can you make? What do you have to offer? Let me know I would love to hear.

Carving Pumpkins

2009-10-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Another exciting evening with the girls this past Monday! I love holidays and making the most of them.
So over the past few weeks we have been getting ready for Halloween. Last week we decorated masks, so the girls could were them on the 31st if they wanted, seeing that after the age of 13 they do not have the availablitiy to get a costume while they are in a group home.
This past Monday we carved pumpkins. What an ooie gooie mess that was but a great time getting our hands dirty carving pumpkins. While the seeds were baking we were carving. Scary scenes, funny faces, one sided, oh wait some are two faced :-) But the overall experience was enjoyable.
Don't they look great?!

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition for Thanksgiving you would like to share? How about Christmas? I would love to hear some and possibly use them with the girls.

Meeting the needs

2009-10-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

One thing I like about what I do is the part where a need is connected with an answer.
At the group home I meet at every week, 2 other volunteers have been coming to help with a need.
At first it was to help a young lady getting ready to turn 18 with a reading level of 4th grade. This volunteer came and tutored this young lady until she went home. Did that mean she stoppred coiming? Not at all, in fact she enjoyed coming so much that she helped with creative ideas of what to do when we are there every week.
recently, this volunteers' teaching skills and passions have been requested again by 2 new girls who have moved into the house. The girls are excited to get help in the subjects they are struggling in and the teacher is excited because she is working with her passion. It is a win win situation!!!

Do you have a skill you are passionate about and would like to share with a young person?
It is possible and I can help you get connected! Just ask me how! shevaun@offcampusjams.org.

Is She Here Yet?

2009-10-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

This past Monday, I was going to the same group home that I have been going to for over 2 years now. The girls have changed several times, as they age out of the system or get moved to a different house, or they leave.

But this Monday, I was reminded that my visits are important to those who are in the house.
They don't care what we do they just like that I come. It is something they can count on.

On this Monday, I arrive at the house a minute late and I ring the doorbell. On the other side I hear, "Shevaun is that you?", then "she's here" in anticipation.
As the door opens and I go thru the formalities of signing in, the girls share with me that "Sally" has been waiting and looking out the window waiting for me to arrive.
They have been waiting! They have no idea what we will be doing, but they are waiting.
Waiting for someone who cares for them. Who is there. "Sally" has only been in the house for 3 weeks and she already knows that I will be there!

These young people need more of us to stand up and just be there. We don't have to have all the answers, we just need to be there. Will you be one who can be there?

Want more information on how you can make a difference in a young persons life? contact me at shevaun@offcampusjams.org

Night on the Town

2009-10-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

This week I had the opportunity to celebrate a birthday with a young lady from the group homes.
When I picked her up, I asked where she wanted to go. Her comment was, "I want spaghetti and meatballs". So the decision was made to go to the Old Spaghetti Factory. It was yummy and she got her spaghetti and meatballs, plus the salad and bread and of course the spumoni for dessert. She also learned where spaghetti came from, from a spaghetti tree all the way from Napoli, Italy. :-)
After dinner we headed over to Crackerjax for miniature golf and most importantly, go karts!
We had a great time celebrating her birthday, which was 2 months before.

The birthday plans may have been delayed, but that didn't matter to this young lady. what mattered is that I didn't forget what I said I would do and we went out to celebrate.

I am into the building of memories, that hopefully will stay with the young people I work with over the years. Memories that will remind them that people do care and not all of our life stinks!

This is why I do what I do!!!

Hot Summer Sundays

2009-06-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday I paid a visit to a group home that is classified as a shelter. This home has 13 kids ranging in ages from 1 month to 7th grade. Some of the kids have been there for a while and call it home. Others have just arrived and appear to be in adjustment mode.

I stopped by to drop of some diapers and study workbooks for the kids in the home. I also had the privilege to hold the 1 month old while sitting and talking with a few other kids in the house.
With 13 kids, they were busy. What I learned was that a weekly event happened on Sundays, playing in the water in the back yard or should I say the mud :-). Some of the kids just wanted to get wet while others came and asked permission to get dirty. They slid down the slide into a puddle (or mini lake) of mud and then slide across the yard, which reminded me of good old times playing in the sprinklers during the summer. No pool was needed! Then as they got wet and cold they start coming into the house wanting to get warm, but are told to go warm up in the sun :-) Kids are kids where ever you go.

Memories with My Other Family

2009-05-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

This week was Memorial Day weekend. I know it is a day to remember the soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty. i take the time now to thank these men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. I also would like to thank the families of these lost heroes. My prayers are with all of you this week.

For me Memorial Day has become a day were my "family" gets together for a picnic or BBQ. This year, I spent it with a part of my new family, the teen moms in a group home. When I arrived at the house, my little friend came to the door and was excitedly calling my name, I think we all look forward for me coming on Monday's. On this Monday we had a great day, swimming, and hanging out. To continue our exercise time, when I come, we did water aerobics in the pool. After the exercise was done we continued having fun, spraying each other, or at least trying to, with the fun noodles and having a blast! All of the sudden the girls star getting out the pool, they heard the "corn man's" horn and were on their way for his delicious corn. One of the young ladies bought corn for the house. It was my first time to try it and it was yummy! a mix of parmesan cheese, chili powder and lemon on sweet corn. YUMMY! After we all had our corn or mango we hung around out front enjoying our food in our suits and towels. It reminded me of when we used to run for the ice cream truck. New experiences!

Soon after, it was time to start dinner. I was so excited about getting my orange chicken mix in the mail that I planned to make dinner for the girls this Memorial Day. I started preparing the meal, then one by one each girl came up and started to help get dinner ready. Wanting to learn something new, or just be apart of something. Everyone helped out doing something, cutting broccoli, preparing the sauce mix, cooking rice, making drinks and setting the table. When dinner was ready we all sat down at the table to eat dinner together. What a great day!

After dinner, the girls were reminded where they live by having to do their chores. they don't get a break just because it is a holiday. Daily they have to do the dishes, sweep and mop floors, clean the bathrooms and take out all the trash. they never know when there will be an inspection, so they have to always be ready.

Another memorable Monday, building family memories to last a long time, that is why I do what I do!

Decisions

2009-05-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of different things going on in my head about a young lady, who I will call Beth, who lives at a teen mom group home that I visit on Mondays.

Beth is soon to turn 18 and she has some decisions to make. What does she want to do? Where does she want to live? Does she want to stay at the home she is now? Deep down she wants to finish her education and at the same time move back in with her mom and get her child back. What she doesn't realize that, if she takes advantage of the programs available to her, she might have a better chance making it in the world around her.

Right now the system has failed her. She is 17 and is struggling with reading and writing. Where do they have her in school, in a life skills class and job training. She is not receiving help with her reading and writing skills, which is one of the things she needs. She has a ways to go and needs a lot of help that I believe she will not get at home. she will one of those statistics that prove we are so needed.

I struggle with what needs to happen next. I can help with her reading and spelling skills on a limited basis. I can try and help her see long term consequences to her choices today. It is times like these that I wish I was able to get a hold of her when she first arrived in the system. It is because of young people like this that we are involved. this is why we do what we do!

Beth is one out of 10,000 foster kids here in Arizona. All needing attention, all needing some one who will care and try to make changes. Will you be one to help bring change?

Why We Do What We Do!

2009-05-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

2 sisters 2 very different outcomes!

Last night I attended a high school graduation of a young lady who used to attend one of the drop in centers I ran 4 years ago. I have always said she was a bright young lady and she proved it. Thru her young life she has had to make some hard decisions. The first being to live with another family to get a better education away from the struggles of daily life amidst her family. Such a tough decision from one so young, but she did it for her future.
Now 4 years later, she is a high school graduate and next year going on to college.

Her sister on the other hand did not get out. She has been caught up in the turmoil that surrounds her environment. It is for this young lady we do what we do. To see her make changes, dream big and teach her how to achieve them. To bring her tools and hope that she is not alone. She is worth dreaming big. She is valuable. She is a vital part of our future. That the there is a bigger world out there and she can be apart of it.

There are so many young people out there like this young lady who need us to show them a different way of life and how to achieve it.