National Adoption Month - November

Each year, November is recognized as National Adoption Awareness Month. While all adoption-related issues are important, the particular focus of this month is the adoption of children currently in foster care.

Here are 3 organizations that hold to values similar to those of Safe Families for Children.  They offer domestic and international services.  Visit their websites and use their resources to learn more and get involved.

Bethany Christian Services  www.Bethany.org

The Villages                        www.villageskids.org

MLJ Adoption                    www.mljadoptions.com

Krista Davis Saw God At Work Through Homeless Dottie

Today I was feeling sorry for myself.  I had a family issue going on which seemed like an 8!  

Then I got a call from our crisis line volunteer (Karen Sylvester).  She is a dandy!      

Apparently Dottie was worried about her nephew James who is staying with Ms. Alison.  She had been unable to reach Ms. Alison (whose phone is not working).

I thanked Karen and then tried the Safe Family number.  Since I had the luxury of multiple numbers to try, I reached Mr. Steve who graciously told me that all was going well.  He confided that this placement was somewhat different than their others, in that the aunt was super worried about her child, and called frequently in concern for him. So sweet.  

Then I called Dottie just to follow up. It was the best part of my week.

This is where I saw God, and felt Him holding me up. . . moving me into the place of righteousness that I had been missing all day. . . .in my own selfish and personal 8!

Dottie is 60 and has taken guardianship of her nephew who is 4.  When asked how she came to be his guardian, she simply said "he is family".  His parents were drug addicts, and he needed family to take care of him.  

When I asked how she got to safe families, she recalled the story of moving to Indiana where relatives are close by.  She has had a series of low paying jobs throughout her life but proudly tells me that she has a clean bill of health and "there is no reason why I can't be working, other than difficulty in finding a job "at my age".

Through a series of events that she described (staying at Wheeler Mission, looking for homeless shelters that could accept her and James together, living in her grandsons attic with a space heater, storing her furniture and belongings in his garage, and being thankful that she "happened upon" Safe Families) I was humbled.  About to go pick her up and move her into my daughter's bedroom, instead I gave her some numbers to call in the morning, and told her to please call me back to let me know how it went.

God has placed us here for a reason.

Turns out my issue is a 2.

Your $10,000 Will Get A Lot With Foster Care Or A Lot More With SFFCCI

Someone just asked me, “If I gave you $10,000 for SFFCCI, what would I get for it?”  I gave a long winded and rambling answer that caused his mind to check out and go to another place.  WOW!  A great question and as a member of the Advisory Board, I felt like a failure.  I did not know the answer.  Recognizing that the staff and other Advisory Board members are sharper than I, they listened to the question and stared back at me.  I interpreted the stare as, “I do not know.”  Within 30 minutes we came to the following eye opening conclusion.

$17 per day is the cost of providing a safe and loving environment for a child placed in a volunteer SFFCCI host home. 

$38 per day is the estimated cost for the tax payer to have a child in foster care.

My friend, give SFFCCI the $10,000 and we will provide a home for 588 kid days. 

Assumptions:

Foster Care*

$14,000 is annual estimated cost for foster care.  This is an average, but a conservative average.  $0 is included for court costs, law enforcement, Department of Child Services, etc.

Safe Families for Children Central Indiana

$114,000 was the 2009 – 2010 year expenses. 233 children were guests in volunteer host homes.  $489 is the average cost.  If the average length of stay is 28 days, we see an average cost of approximately $17.

*We recognize there are a lot of assumptions and lots of arguments could be made for higher or lower numbers.  But, the point is, Safe Families for Children is a good investment of money for society and children.  We value the role of foster parents and the role they play in protecting children.  Nothing written here should be misinterpreted as negative toward DCS, the courts, foster care, etc.  There is a need for all of us.

Over 160 homes are registered in Central Indiana as host homes for SFFCCI.  THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!  Your generosity makes this possible.

What are your thoughts on this?  Feel free to share them.

Chuck Gross

President - Advisory Board

Diane Palma - Reality of the Job

Coordinating a placement usually requires dozens of phone calls...from finding the right safe family to organizing logistics for intake, etc.  I used to lose sleep from worry and frustration. It seemed like so much was riding on my ability to find the perfect family for a child/parent in need. But after about 200 successful placements and the same number of sleepless nights, I finally realized that none of this is even in my control or design.  Now, if I feel a bit of frustration coming my way, I remind myself that each of our, (just under 700 to date), placements has been perfectly planned. I simply happen to have the privilege to make a few phone calls, connect a few dots...and watch the miracles unfold. 

Diane Palma

Assistant Director

Jones Chiropractic Supports Safe Families for Children Central Indiana

Jones Chiropractic and Maximum Health

www.joneshealth.com

317-867-4323

16409 Southpark Dr. Ste D

Westfield, IN  46074

Free adjustments on October 27 to existing patients, with a $25.00 donation to Safe Families.

New Patients through October receive exam and xray for $25 donation to Safe Families.

Thank you Dr. Jones!

Chuck Gross

President Advisory Board

Diane Palma Saw God At Work On Thursday 10/19/2011

Diane is Assistand Director of Safe Families for Children.  She keeps telling me that if I keep my eyes, ears, mind and heart open, I too can see God at work.  She shared the following examples with me.

"1:00pm:  Tearful Grandmother calls, desperate for a safe place for her 4yr old grandson, today.  They'll be homeless by the end of the day. 

5:00pm:  Courageous Safe Family opens their door to welcome a 4yr old homeless boy into their home for 2 weeks...just in time for dinner!

Today, between 1 and 5pm, total strangers from two polar worlds were brought together by the Grace of God and through Safe Families for Children.   

Today, I was humbled yet again.  I have the best job in the world!"

Get to know the heart of Diane Palma be visiting the following blog articles: Why Safe Families for Children 7/28 and Two Soccer Moms: What Did They Start? 7/21

Chuck Gross
President - Advisory Board

How Tracey Mitchell-Strong Saw God At Work Last Week

 "I would like to report how God worked out child care for three boys that are placed with one of the Safe Families, and now the Safe Family mom does not have to rush home from work to retrieve them off the bus. I pray that those boys' mom will follow through and have consistency in visiting and talking with her kids, as they are having a rough time. I pray that she finds a home. I pray that she is timely for any and everything.  I send praises that one of our mom's found a home and I pray that the home passes the Section 8 inspection so she can move in and get her children back. I pray that God helps two twin boys and their younger brother to control their attitudes and not lash out at others. I pray that one mom realizes that children are a blessing from God and that he gives her the know how to appropriately parent all of them!!!! I pray for another mom to find a home and a job. "


Tracey is a member of the SFFCCI professional staff.  We thank God for having her on His team at SFFCCI.


Chuck Gross
President Advisory Board