Kids Are Waiting | News

New Legislation Will Help Children November 12, 2008 | inRich.com
Nadine Marsh-Carter's Nov. 2 Commentary piece, "Virginia Lags in Finding Homes for Foster Children," outlined many of the challenges that all states, not just Virginia, face in helping foster children live with safe, permanent families.
New law to help foster children, family caregivers October 28, 2008 | DesMoinesRegister.com
A new law passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush earlier this month will mean real, lasting and positive changes for the lives and futures of more than 9,000 children living in foster care in Iowa - and thousands of relatives who have been raising them.
Concerns remain with adoption act October 19, 2008 | The Washington Times
Amid the politicking and financial fights, Congress actually passed a significant piece of legislation for troubled families in September. It affects you, for instance, if you have been thinking about taking in your messed-up sister's kids. Under the "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008," which President Bush signed Oct. 7, you can more easily become their paid legal guardian.
Measure helps children move out of foster care October 14, 2008 | Pantagraph
Children's Home + Aid applauds the passage of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act - H.R. 6893 - signed into law on Oct. 7.
Legislation will change foster children's lives October 12, 2008 | San Jose Mercury News
Last week, President Bush signed the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act into law. With the financial crisis and the presidential campaign under way, the media didn't pay much attention. But as one who was in California's foster care system, I know it will have a huge impact.
First Lady of Virginia: Children Need Permanent Families July 31, 2008 | Richmond Times-Dispatch
As a judge in Virginia's juvenile and domestic relations courts, and in my work with young people as Virginia's first lady, I have witnessed the importance of the love and support of stable, lifelong families for all children and youth in foster care.
Senate must follow House lead in adopting reforms July 30, 2008 | The Buffalo News
The child-welfare system is “broken.” This harsh indictment has been a constant drumbeat in Los Angeles headlines for years. In the past few months, the tragedy of a 5-year-old subjected to horrifying mistreatment grabbed the public’s attention. The pendulum started to swing, and demands mounted to address the crisis.
Baucus' help needed to renew Adoption Incentive bill July 28, 2008 | Great Falls Tribune
Foster care is intended to be a short-term solution, like a lifeboat, for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, but far too many children and youth drift from placement to placement without ever finding the stability and support that all children need and deserve.
Finally, a foster care fix July 25, 2008 | Los Angeles Times
Congress must step up to help foster youth July 22, 2008 | San Francisco Chronicle
What dreams do we have for our children? What future do we seek to chart for them? What supports do we endeavor to give them as they transition into adulthood? When we address these straightforward questions for our own children, all of the complexities of reforming the nation's beleaguered foster care system disappear. The answers are self-evident. We want our children to have a good education, a stable, loving environment, and the opportunity to grow into healthy young adults.
Guest column: Many voices, one vision July 06, 2008 | Summit Daily News
Permanency, safety and well-being. Three words that carry great meaning individually, but even more so when considered together in the context of children and families served by Colorado’s child welfare system. These words defined the mission for nearly 1,000 people who recently gathered at the inaugural Colorado Summit on Children, Youth and Families in Keystone. Many voices came together to coordinate efforts, collaborate on best practices and share the common vision of ensuring permanency, safety and well-being for all people involved in our system.
Sen. Susan Collins: Adoption proves there's no place like home June 19, 2008 | Sanford News
Nowhere is the human spirit of kindness and generosity shown more vividly than it is through adoption. When families open their hearts and their homes to foster children, they are giving them the love and stability that all children deserve, as well as a solid foundation on which to build a successful life.
Gazette Opinion: Pass legislation to better life for American Indian foster children May 24, 2008 | Billings Gazette
In the United States today, half a million children are in foster care. More than 10,000 are American Indian children. In Montana, more than a third of the 2,200 children in foster care are Native American.
Grounded in limbo May 16, 2008 | Seattle Times
Foster care should respect heritage May 14, 2008 | Seattle Post-Intelligencer
According to a report by the National Indian Child Welfare Association and Kids Are Waiting, Washington has one of the nation's highest rates of American Indian foster children. While they make up only 2 percent of Washington's child population, American Indians represent 8.4 percent of children in foster care.
Making new families for foster children April 10, 2008 | San Jose Mercury News
Although foster care was intended as a short-term safety net for children in crisis, almost half of California's foster children have been in the system for more than two years, and 25 percent of these children have spent five years or more living in foster care. For many of these children, a supported legal guardianship with a relative or another caring adult can be a way out of foster care and into a safe, permanent family.
Preventing the fires of abuse February 12, 2008 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram (This piece also appeared in the Clute The Facts, Bryan-College Station Eagle, Harlingen Valley Morning Star, Ellis County Press, San Marcos Record, Big Spring Herald, Beaumont Enterprise, Baytown Sun, Dallas Daily Commercial Record, Deer Park The Progress, Brownwood Bulletin, Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster, Waco Tribune Herald, and the Wise County Messenger (TX) on March 9, 2008 and the Deer Park Progress (TX) on March 10, 2008)
We all agree that preventing child abuse is better than dealing with its aftermath. It also turns out to be a lot cheaper.
Don't cut foster care February 09, 2008 | San Bernardino County Sun
Last October, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stated: "Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and permanent home, surrounded by the nurturing influence of family and friends. It is California's goal to ensure that this happens for all our young people and especially those in foster care."
Healthy families, stronger state January 30, 2008 | Daytona Beach News-Journal
For families already at-risk, the broad impact of an economic downturn can be catastrophic and enduring. It is Florida's fiscal, social and moral obligation to make maintaining programs and services that strengthen families our top priority, especially during these difficult times.
Fighting Child Abuse January 23, 2008 | The Washington Times
The recent tragic deaths of four sisters in the District of Columbia raise once again the question of why the United States, despite local outrage and national and state efforts, has not reduced child deaths from abuse and neglect.
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