orphanages in America & 5 things you can do to help

American’s don’t think orphanages exist in the USA, I mean in 2015 how could they? Sadly there are orphanages in America, they’re simply called “group homes.”

Children in Arizona are being placed in group homes because there aren’t enough foster homes or kinship placement options. Maricopa County is only one county in the U.S. that’s seeing a tremendous influx of children entering foster care. Mary Jo Pitzl of The Arizona Republic says, “More than one out of every five children removed from their family home because of abuse or neglect is sent to a group home.”

In Arizona, specifically Maricopa County, 17,000 kids in foster care are in need of a home, many of that number are available for adoption. “The numbers show a steady increase in the number of children in out-of-home care — 71 percent higher than five years ago,” says Pitzl. With these numbers I can imagine the group homes are far surpassing their allotted number of ten children per home.

Here we are in the twenty-first century with orphanages in the United States.

Usually group homes are considered the alternative for children who have issues stemming from their neglect and abuse (a foster home cannot or will not care for them), or for people who are disabled or elderly. Neither is the case for group homes that are rising up around the U.S. amid the recent influx of foster children.

Children who can, and should be, given the chance to thrive in a foster home don’t have that opportunity. The inability to provide a loving and caring home to these children after they are removed from abusive and neglectful situations is exacerbating the likelihood that they will have even greater attachment and trauma based issues. It is proven that traumatized children need a family environment to heal.

It’s not helpful to only state the problem, so here are some ways to help:

1. Share this article. The more awareness, the better. The more good foster homes, the better. Maybe some of those 17,000 children in Maricopa County can find a family who will care for them, maybe a child in another state will find a forever-family because this article was read by someone, somewhere.
2. Foster. You read the statistic above. 17,000 children in need of a foster home in Maricopa County, Arizona alone. People are scared of fostering because they’ll get too close, and that child may be reunited with their biological parents. This deserves a much longer post that I haven’t written yet, but here’s the truth, this child has one chance at love, to know what a family is supposed to be, and you might be that one person to give it to them.
   Here are some articles and books about foster care:
   –Tips on Bonding with an Adopted or Foster Child (Lovin’ Adoptin’)
   –The Beauty and Brokenness of Foster Care
   –Ready or Not by Pam Parish is an essential read for any prospective foster or adoptive parent.
3. Adopt. Many Americans don’t realize there are children waiting for forever-families in the U.S. Children right now, in foster homes, waiting. Children who are two-years-old and kids who are eighteen are available for adoption. Infants are even in need of forever homes, and often have an older sibling who needs adopted along with them.
4. Support foster parents. If we had received adequate support when our youngest son came to us (came to us through foster care), I believe we would have strongly considered adding a third child to our family. Support is needed. One family showed up with items we needed when our son came to us. One family. We had many friends, and family lives near us, but only one family gave us physical support. No one offered to clean the house, make meals, date nights when we needed it, or run to the store when either of our children arrived. Yet, this is done for many families who birth children. I don’t quite get it. Show support for foster families by offering to do these things. Give specifics, say, “Can I mow your grass, when would you like me to come over?” instead of asking, “Do you need anything?” When you ask this, the foster parents feels guilty for saying yes and dumping something on you.
5. Support families who are struggling so their children aren’t removed. Support young parents by volunteering as a mentor. Help educate parents on how to care for infants and children. Help counsel parents, sometimes they need a little guidance in the right direction. Give them financial assistance, food assistance, and offer transportation.

If you do consider adoption or foster care, be patient, as the news recently released this information and CPS/DHS may be flooded with people who are exploring the option of becoming foster parents or forever-families to these children. Also, remember that just because families are inquiring about children does not mean they will follow through, or they will be approved as foster or adoptive homes.

Children are being failed all over the U.S. (and world) every day. According to the latest report from the North American Counsel on Adoptable Children, in 2012, 23,395 youth aged out of the foster care system. These teens were forced out of foster care without a family to call their own. No forever-family to return to on their birthday, Christmas, or Thanksgiving.

If you would like to do something to help foster children in Arizona, please visit AASK, this section of the website features children who are available for adoption. You can also financially support organizations if you are unable to foster or adopt.

“Celebrate the opportunity to open your homes to kids in need, knowing that if it be for just a few days or an entire lifetime, you’ve been given the unique opportunity to offer them something special – love.” Jason Johnson

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