Comments:
i know that pepolple make up things that sometimes it is not always a lie; im living proof of that seriously.

Comments:
I am a 59 yr old woman who grew up in NYC foster care -1945 to 1962. Your web site highlights another facet of the system - unfair allegations of abuse against the care giving parents. The system is not asy for parents or the children. My memories of child hood in the system is the inability of my foster parents to adopt me becuse 1- my father could not be found and my mother was commited to Pilgrim state hospital. She was not considered mentally or legally able to give informed consent to my adoption. Thank God I was under the care of the Sheltering Arms Children Service Manhattan, NY. They made a successful effort to keep me with one family which gave me stability not generally available to most children in the system. They provided music lessons, dance lessons, summer camp, and things my foster family could not even afford to give my older sister(foster). The Sheltering Arms also introduced me to beauty and culture - when they hosted a foster mother Tea Party in the formal garden of their Manhattan Town House headquarters. However, the pain of being a foster child is always the same - friends and teachers asking why my last name was different than my family's, needing to get permission to visit my girl friend in Connecticut or vacation out of state with my family. When my foster parents visited Norway, I couldn't spend the summer with my older married sister, like a normal teenager would, but had to board for the summer with strangers in another part of the city - far away from my friends, church and school friends - with people who didn't know me or care about me. No matter how good, the system is humiliating because the foster parents and children don't have decision making empowerment. As a former foster child, I want to thank all you unsung heros out there who open your hearts and your homes under VERY difficult situations to these very needy children. You open your hearts to love when you know that love you give will make it hurt more when they have to leave your home. You stand up for the foster child's best interests and valiantly deal with powerful governmental rules and regulations. Foster Parents "lead with their chin". It does make a difference though. The children remember and know what you're going thru more than you realize. sincerely, Christine

Comments:
I am a 59 yr old woman who grew up in NYC foster care -1945 to 1962. Your web site highlights another facet of the system - unfair allegations of abuse against the care giving parents. The system is not asy for parents or the children. My memories of child hood in the system is the inability of my foster parents to adopt me becuse 1- my father could not be found and my mother was commited to Pilgrim state hospital. She was not considered mentally or legally able to give informed consent to my adoption. Thank God I was under the care of the Sheltering Arms Children Service Manhattan, NY. They made a successful effort to keep me with one family which gave me stability not generally available to most children in the system. They provided music lessons, dance lessons, summer camp, and things my foster family could not even afford to give my older sister(foster). The Sheltering Arms also introduced me to beauty and culture - when they hosted a foster mother Tea Party in the formal garden of their Manhattan Town House headquarters. However, the pain of being a foster child is always the same - friends and teachers asking why my last name was different than my family's, needing to get permission to visit my girl friend in Connecticut or vacation out of state with my family. When my foster parents visited Norway, I couldn't spend the summer with my older married sister, like a normal teenager would, but had to board for the summer with strangers in another part of the city - far away from my friends, church and school friends - with people who didn't know me or care about me. No matter how good, the system is humiliating because the foster parents and children don't have decision making empowerment. As a former foster child, I want to thank all you unsung heros out there who open your hearts and your homes under VERY difficult situations to these very needy children. You open your hearts to love when you know that love you give will make it hurt more when they have to leave your home. You stand up for the foster child's best interests and valiantly deal with powerful governmental rules and regulations. Foster Parents "lead with their chin". It does make a difference though. The children remember and know what you're going thru more than you realize. sincerely, Christine

Comments:
keep up the good work