North Carolina Needs Foster Families for Teens
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Views on Foster Care and Adoption in North Carolina Novemberfostering 2008 • Vol. 13, No. 1 perspectives www.fosteringperspectives.org Sponsored by the NC Division of Social Services and the Family and Children’s Resource Program North Carolina needs foster families for teens Earlier this year the North Unused Homes A Teen’s Perspective Carolina Division of Social The desire for additional homes Services surveyed public child for teens makes more sense if In our most recent writing contest we asked young people what they thought welfare agencies in our state one understands that not every about the fact that some teens live in group homes simply because there aren’t about recruiting and retaining foster family in North Carolina enough foster families that will take teens. We also asked what they thought foster parents. Sixty-eight of is currently being used. would change the minds of these reluctant families. Here’s the winning entry. North Carolina’s 100 county This is something we have in departments of social services common with other states. For My name is Ariel, but most people call me I’m young, responded. example, in her study of Ari. I’m 16 years old and I’m proud to say I’m 1 talented, smart, One of the chief concerns they administrative data on use of going to be a senior this year. [Although I’m in foster care] I’m a regular and sweet. So raised was the shortage of foster foster homes in Oregon, teenager. I have lots of friends who are in foster homes for teens. As a group, the Oklahoma, and New Mexico, why are foster care as well. We like to go to the mall and shop, 68 responding agencies said they Gibbs (2005) found that in these parents so go on dates to the movies, and talk on the phone. would like to see about 1,200 states 20% of the foster parents reluctant to take I love my friends. additional foster families for provided between 60% and 72% in teens like me? No, my life is not perfect, and I’ve been adolescents. of all foster care days. Gibbs’ through a lot. But I think that’s what makes me who I am today: young, Assessing the Need finding is in line with the talented, independent, smart, and sweet. On the one hand, this is not conclusion reached by Stukes So why are foster parents so reluctant to take in teenagers like me? surprising if you consider that Chipingu and Bent-Goodley Since I can remember, teenagers in foster care have been talked about as teens are disproportionately (2004), who found that at any being bad, disrespectful, out-of-control. All these words and many more represented in residential given time on a national level, have been used to describe us. placements in our state. For one out of every three licensed My opinion is not that foster parents are so reluctant to take us in, but example, in state fiscal year foster homes is unused. that people have talked down about us so much that foster parents who 2006-07, 21% of youths age 13 There are many factors that want to take us in or give us a chance suddenly have a change of mind. So to 17 were placed in group homes determine whether a foster home if people would stop giving us such a bad rap and stop dwelling on our when they first entered DSS is used, including the number of weaknesses and look at our strengths, more people would be willing to custody, compared with 6% of children in the agency’s custody, take teenage foster children in their homes. children age 6 to 12 and 1% of the relationship between the Ariel’s was awarded $100 for her first prize entry. Turn to page 3 to read other contest entries. children age birth to 5. foster family and the agency, the Yet if you consider the number fit between the foster family’s skills and abilities and the needs of homes and the number of placement, the children who are children and families. Teens in of the children in care, and the youth in care, agencies’ desire for in care—and right now one out foster care need you to take foster family’s stated preferences. more homes makes less sense. of three youths in foster care in action on their behalf. Talk to This last factor is something At the end of February 2008 there North Carolina is over age 13— other foster parents to make sure were 10,543 children in DSS over which foster parents have a must be cared for by someone. they are aware of the need for custody in North Carolina. That great deal of influence. In general, For teens in particular this can homes for teens. Take a moment the more restrictions you place same month, our state had 7,129 mean placement in a group home, on the type and number of to reflect on your own situation licensed foster homes. even though policy says children children you are willing to care and stated preferences. Social Looking at these numbers, it should be placed in the most for, the longer you will wait for a workers need families that can would seem that North Carolina family-like setting possible. has more than enough foster placement. For example, if you accept and work with all of the homes to care for every child in limit yourself to infants, it may You Can Help children that come into care. So foster care, including teens. Why be quite some time before an You became a foster or adoptive many of them are adolescents— are agencies saying we need infant is taken into custody. parent because you want to make won’t you consider opening your more? While you are waiting for a a difference in the lives of home to teens? Jimmy Wayne: NC foster care alumni makes it big North Carolina-born Jimmy Wayne had his first number the couple had a history of taking in children who needed a one hit this September, when “Do You Believe Me Now” home. According to Wayne, their kindness changed the trajec- reached the top of the Billboard country singles chart. Called tory of his life and made possible all that he has achieved. one of country music’s “Next Big Things” by USA Today, In much of his music, Wayne draws attention to children Wayne has won the attention of national media and the living with abuse, neglect, and poverty. You can hear excerpts devotion of fans. from some of these songs, such as “Paper Angels,” “I Love You Although he says he is now living his dream, Wayne’s This Much,” and “Kerosene Kid,” at www.jimmywayne.com. early life in Gaston County was anything but ideal. His father Jimmy Wayne comes back to North Carolina to help children left the family before he was born. His mother spent time in in need and the agencies who care for them. Since 2006, he prison. Wayne went into foster care at age 8, eventually has returned to do an annual benefit show for the Cleveland- becoming separated from his sister. He says he moved Rutherford Kidney Association. Youth in area group homes around in the foster care system quite a bit. receive free tickets to the show. This August, he took a break At 16 he was homeless, living outside, and trying to earn from his touring schedule to share his story with DSS social money for food. Then, he was taken in by an older couple. workers at an annual conference. While they never received any stipend or agency support, He spoke with Fostering Perspectives in September 2008. An Interview with Jimmy Wayne How have you transformed your experiences, her husband are still great friends of mine. So they experience these valleys in our life for a reason. Why and in particular painful episodes from your never know. They might end up helping someone shouldn’t they go after it? We’re stronger than the own life, into music that inspires other people? and getting a lifetime of free, backstage VIP passes. ones who have never experienced anything. I think that really just telling the truth, you know, In North Carolina we’re really trying to help kids Is there anything else you’d like to add? and saying things that people can relate to is where maintain ties with their birth families. How has I did an interview the other day, and they asked me it begins. And I think it’s just songwriting. Instead that worked out in your life, maintaining your about religion and how that played a part. And it of writing a commercial song that I think might get family ties while living with other people? played a major part, because of that family. You know, played on the radio, I write songs that may not ever they lived by the Word. And the Word says “True get played on the radio but to me, they have a lot of Well, I’ve never been in a situation where I had a and undefiled religion is to help the widows and truth and a lot of meaning behind them. And, you family that wanted anything to do with me, so I don’t orphans in their time of distress.” And if statisti- know, I think when people hear those songs, those know what that feels like. I’ve had foster parents cally, there’s more Christians than there are kids are the songs that move them the most.