It will never be easy, but it will be WORTH IT!

As a foster parent, you know the children who come into foster care may have experienced traumatic things. Some children have witnessed things you would never let your own children see on t.v. but these children have experienced them in person. And regardless of what they have experienced, just the fact that they had to be removed from their homes and everything that is familiar to them — their toys, their friends, their school and sometimes their brothers and sisters — is traumatic. But they are still children.

Think about how you feel when you have had to face a major loss. It's really hard to understand what's happening and why it had to happen. Now imagine you're going through that at the age of five. If grown-ups can't deal with stuff sometimes, we can't expect children to do better. When children don't have the words to express their emotions, they act out. They may be angry. They may lapse back to baby-like behaviors, including wetting the bed. Not because they're bad, but because they don't have any other way to express their grief. Yes, it can be challenging, but you will not be out there alone. You will have people supporting you, encouraging you, and helping you know how to best help these children.

Our hope & vision for Jacob's Community Center is to provide a "family like community" for foster children so they can have a place to go where they don't feel different. It will be a place for foster parents to go and get support, even if it's just to be able to sit down with other parents who deal with the serious issues on a day-to-day basis too and have someone to talk to about their daily struggles or accomplishments.

What are some of your kids' favorite activities? Is there something that helps them cope better when having a bad day?

‪#‎iSupportJacobsCommunityCenter‬
www.asanow.org

Written by Lisa Wallace

Beating the Foster Care Statistics

I entered into foster care a very scared 16 year old. I bounced around my whole life, until this point, with my single mother, her never-ending boyfriends and my half sister. As a child we moved so much I never had a sense of home.

Foster Care was my only option over a longer juvenile jail sentence. A judgment put upon me after I was arrested, while defending myself from my mother's cocaine fueled rage.

I didn't understand at the time what was happening to me, or why my family couldn’t just go back to being "normal"? Why were my choices being made for me by a caseworker? I was honest about the abuse, wasn't anyone listening? Nothing was the same for me after that. That would be the last time I lived with my mother.

I remember meeting my foster parents and how they looked at me with wide eyes. I was an angry teen and I refused to allow myself to like them, or even get to know them. I felt so betrayed and abandoned by my own mother, I trusted no one.  I just wanted out of this new foster home.  I decided after that  first night I was there, that I would run. I plotted my escape and I ran from foster care into the world. I bounced around from place to place, just like I was taught.

My caseworker was never heard from again. I aged out and grew up quickly.  I will tell you that most of the statistics about foster children who age-out are indeed True.

I dropped out of school at 16, pregnant by 18, and allowed drugs and alcohol to fuel my world for a short time. I always knew deep down, that was NOT who I was. I didn't have to stay a statistic. I was more than my past and my abuse.

GOD is bigger than this hurt; and HE saved me. HE allowed amazing people to come into my life and help fill in the gaps where I was forced to stop growing at 16. I was blessed to go  back to school and I graduated with GED Honors. Sheriff Joe Arpaio presented me with my diploma!

I went on to college, and have completed numerous courses. I am proudest to write I have completed and continue to work the Celebrate Recovery Program.

I married an amazing man, and thankfully 19 years later; we are still in love. We have 2 biological sons, and I quickly realized how much I loved being a Mom!! My husband and I have been foster parents for 9 years now. I can't truly express what takes place when we get that call and a new child is placed in our home, Excitement! Fear! Somehow I know and understand their need to feel loved, and to feel accepted.

I am thankful God has allowed the vision of Jacob’s Mission Community Center to come to life. A place where foster children will be accepted and loved. I am excited to be a part of something that will continue to bless generations to come!

Erin

To learn more about our center, visit us at www.asanow.org

Fostering and Adopting

If you'd like to learn more about fostering or adopting from Arizona reach out to us at www.asanow.org

ASA Now in New York

While we're here in NYC we decided to ask random strangers to talk to us about foster care and adoption. This woman's mother was a foster parent and what she had to say touched our hearts!

To learn more about foster care, please reach out to us by visiting our website at: http://www.asanow.org