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Foster Families Change Lives Forever

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Contributed by: Jacque Smith on 4/24/2008

Have you ever completed the "Rocking Chair Test" on yourself? "What is that?!", you say. Fast forward to your later years when you are in your rocking chair looking back on what you have accomplished in your life. Have you really made a difference in your community? Have you left a legacy of service to those in need? Has someone's life been enriched and bettered because you took the time to help?

It's never too late to make that difference. In fact, I know of just the way that can be accomplished.

I have the privilege of associating with those who will never regret their "Rocking Chair Test". They are choice human beings in our immediate community who have chosen to give of their time, their talents and their homes.

They are the Foster Families of Adams County!!

I am the Foster Family Recruiter and Trainer at Adams County Social Services.

I was sitting one day at the back entrance at our Child and Family Center at 7401 N. Broadway, Denver, 80221.
One of our wonderful foster parents, Irma, was visiting with me while she awaited the completion of a visit of one of her foster children with their bio parents. One of her foster sons waiting with her kept interrupting our chat and Irma gently taught him not to interrupt. She then shared with me that he had been so traumatized when he first entered her home that he could not speak and that was only a month ago. I chuckled that now he was so talkative after being in such a warm and loving home (quite opposite of his own home surroundings) that she was teaching the next step, to limit his talking while others are conversing.

Another of our amazing foster families, Lori & James, specializes in helping physically injured and drug / alcohol affected babies in their home. Out of 42 babies they have fostered, Lori shares that they need to always figure out how to best help each one. One drug affected infant boy could not be soothed . He cried for hours on end. They observed that lights and noise affected him adversely. One evening they decided to turn the lights down low in their bathroom with some soothing music and ran a luke warm temperature of water in the bathtub continually. They then discovered that what worked to soothe him was to be held while gently gliding him through the water in the described conditions. He needed this several times a day and even though their water bill was quite high as a result, they didn't hesitate to offer this comfort to a little one in need.

Our great foster parents, Iutzi and Jim, have had over 200 foster children come through their home. During the process they adopted "the love of their life" and have a beautiful adopted daughter. Our hat is off to all those adopted and biological children of foster families who give up time with their mom and dad to allow foster children to receive their parents' love to help them heal from their previous abuse, abandonment or neglect.

Foster Parents, Debbie and Jeff, tell of a little 4 year old boy who "swore like a sailor" and was quite irritable when he first came to their home. This foster child was hesitant due to his violent past in his biological family to be a part of Jeff and Debbie's family activities. When they watched t.v., he sat by himself at the outer rims of the family room in spite of their invitations. One day Debbie was home by herself with this little one. She put a movie on to watch with him. She sat at one end of the sofa and he at the other. Little by little, he began moving on the couch closer to her until he asked if he could sit on her lap. With her bright smile she told him, "Of course!". He turned, faced her and while putting his arms around her neck said, "Debbie, I love you". She called her husband at work that day and said through tears, " This is why we do foster care"!

There are countless stories of the miracles that foster children are the beneficiaries of as a result of being in the safe and stable homes of our foster families. We have foster parents who are retired Special Education Principals, those who drive trucks, who are in nursing, department store employees, police, doctors to name a few and those who don't work. There are those who are single, married, divorced, people in their 20's and in their 80's, parents and those who have never parented, wealthy and "not so much". They are all heroes among us though they do not like that to be said.

It would be hard for me to imagine a more genuine, loving group of people that I could ever have the honor of working with.

May is National Foster Care Month.
I want to personally thank all the Foster Families nationwide who know what I'm talking about when I say, "Have you made a Difference in the Life of a Child"? They know that they positively affect the life of one precious child at a time, who can't be in their own home because it is not safe. They also know that foster children take with them the knowledge that it is possible to live in and create a safe and stable family in future generations. They know that Foster Care positively influences our immediate community, our nation, and ultimately our world.

I know of choice individuals who can pass"The Rocking Chair Test" with flying colors! We at Adams County Social Services honor them daily.

If you would like to share your skills, hobbies, values and love with children of all ages (infants to teens; you get to choose) waiting for what only YOU can teach and give them...

Please feel free to phone me, Jacque Smith, Foster Care Recruiter / Trainer at 303-412-5157 or email jacque.smith@dss.co.adams.co.us

We have Information Meetings at our building (7401 N. Broadway, Denver) on 1st Thursdays from 12-1:30 p.m. and 3rd Thursdays from 6:30-8 p.m. (Call before you come).

You too can Change the Life of a Child Forever and Give the Gift of Foster Care!

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Jacque Smith

Westminster , CO

Jacque Smith has posted 2 stories and 0 comments since joining on 8/20/2007. Jacque Smith 's average story rating is 0.

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