Are there any african american foster parents out there????

[Olena]

I have been a foster parent to my nephew for the last 8 months. I live in the state of Oregon where the foster care system is not the greatest. So far I have not meet any other actual foster parents of color. I feel like me and my husbands are the only ones, and that can be kinda lonely. Are there any other african american foster parents out there who take their job serious like I do mine?

[Cleo Allen]

There are alot of Foster Parents out there, Expecially African American ones. I work for a FFA that is Black Owned. Most of our parents between our three offices ( in California ) are AA. It might be a good idea to start up a chat group for AA Foster Parents. There you will find the support you need. Congratulations on reaching out to your Nephew. I'm also a Foster Parent.

[Olena]

Good Morning. Thanks for the response. Support indeed is what I need. Sometimes it can be quite lonely. In Oregon there appears to be a shortage of AA Foster Parents so a chat group would be a great idea! How long have to you been a Foster Parent?

[Ms. Surisa]

Foster parenting can be very challenging and rewarding at the same time. I am in California and currently I do not have any children in my care; however I am a foster parent. It is tough when you don't have any other parents to speak to that are sharing the same experience that you are going through. Here is a website that will keep you informed and you will get to share or exchange some of your own ideas: www.fostercentral.org.

Feel free to email or send a yahoo messenger shout out at any time. Take care of your nephew he will be one of your biggest rewards in life from God.

juzree2000 - Messenger

Love and Peace,
Surisa

[Olena]

Thank you Surisa. It is nice to hear from others out there that can relate. I just checked out the site you recommended ( found it as www.fostercarecentral.org ) Anyway so far the site is very informative. It has been a frustrating road at times but I see the changes in my nephew daily thanks to him coming into care. Hope to talk to you again.

[e-mail]

Thanks,
Olena

[Johnniekaye Brown]

I am a African American social worker. I have not practiced in foster care and adoption since 2000, but I now sit on a governor's committe here in southeast Kansas to address the disproportionality of the number of African American children in foster care. If Oregon is anything like Kansas, and it sounds like it is since you feel that you and your husband are the only ones. There are very few African American foster parents, yet we are having more and more Black foster children. What's wrong with this picture? I want to encourage u, because you are ([e-mail] )needed..I have a Black social worker colleague who is taking the training now to go into foster care full time. We have even discussed beginning a house for the children in foster care. It sounds like u have had some not so pleasant experiences with the system there. If you need to talk and vent just let me know....

[Olena]

Thanks for the reply. Yes Oregon is just like Kansas when it come to the disproportionate amount of African American children in foster care. In my opinion there seems to be a shortage of African American Foster care providers also. It seems that the ones who decide to become foster parents get started due to a relative coming into care. My husband and I have decidede to continue foster care once our nephew goes home. Now I realize that we are needed and I to help as many of our own children as possible. We completed our training in March 2009 and I continue to do extra training courses online since I stay at home. I feel the more I know the more I will be able help the children that come into my care. My husband works outside of the home as a caregiver to disabled adults so I feel with that experience and the experience of being Foster parents. We would also like to open a fostercare home someday too. We will see what happens. Networking at this point will be really important in our learning process. ([e-mail])

[Babydoll]

My husband and I have adopted my niece and we have taken classes to become licensed foster parents. We did this about 3 months ago and are waiting for our licenses. I wish they would hurry up as we are so excited to get more children because there is a need for more foster parents out here.

[Olena]

Hi Babydoll! Thank you so much for your response. My husband and I are also licensed foster parents. Our nephew will be going home soon, but we have decided to continue fostering other youth. One thing I have learned is that you have to be in constant contact with the fostercare agency or you will fall inbetween the cracks. I constantly emailing my nephew's caseworker (my preferred way of contact). I also keep in contact with the cerifier. It can be very frustrating at times but the documentation (emails) can be used as reminders in case you are not getting a response or someone get's confused later. I had to send out 5 emails inbetween 2 different people just to have my name corrected once I got married. I know frustrating, but you are not by yourself. Would love to talk to you more [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Good Luck,

Olena

[Yosay]

I am not one yet but I do plan to become one very soon. But yes, I agree with you not many black people become foster parents. Many of us really need to step up and become both foster parents and adoptive parents to our children. Everyone else seems to be adopting our children except us.

[Yosay]

BTW, I may sound like a broken record, but I am very much interested in networking with foster/adoptive parents or soon to be. I think there needs to be a concerted effort by African Americans that are interested in becoming foster/adoptive parents to get organized and form either a support network or organization that encourages adoption. It's time we take some serious action regarding the longevity of our communities.

What do you all think?

[Ms. LATREECE]

I would like to be a Foster parent and I find it rewarding to help another child that truly needs your help. I am in Los Angeles, CA and I do not know where to start in this vast community of uncertainty. I see alot everyday and want to put myself in a position to be able to give to another family like in that way. I am a single parent right now and hope to get married soon so I will be aligned with the right circumstances to Bless another child with the love and support that they need to grow into a well-balanced, well-educated, well-rounded individual.

[Nappykat]

My children have a set of AA foster parents for the time being, so I know there are AA foster parents out there.

Maybe there aren't many foster parents because many black people just don't qualify as foster parents. I tried to become a volunteer with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) that act liaisons between foster children, parents, and the court system. I thought having been through the the system myself on both ends would lend me a unique set of experiences and circumstances that could be a helping hand to all involve. But you do not qualify if you have children in the system. So I understand that from both ends too - if you had children in the system then you're essentially a 'failed parent' so you have nothing to lend.

But it's also very counterintuitive to make that assumption. But so it goes.

But think about it - there are hella lot of AA children in the system. Even once a our lives are together (if it ever gets together) we will never qualify for anything other than natural parenting (the kids we have from our own loins). Parents who have had children in the system are pretty much tainted. You also don't qualify if you have had a felony. So many who could be FP's just don't qualify.