Over the last 15 years I mostly spent my career working with children in Foster Care. I've been employed at several different private agencies, non-profits, that focus on working with children and families. If you are not familiar with what Foster Care is, I'll quickly explain…
When children are neglected or abused, abandoned or for one reason or another are no longer safe in their "family", thei
r "home", they are removed and placed in a safer place while agencies and workers are assisting their parents to change, grow and learn how to better care for their children. Some children will eventually go home, yet many do not. The statistic for the State of Michigan alone, is that on any given day there are over 40,000 kids in foster care. There are not enough homes or families to provide safe places for children….Homes that can FOSTER them while their parents are in a sense "fostered" in change as well. In my experience over the many years I have seen some horrible victims of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) and have seen the pain and suffering in many of their faces. However I have also had the privilege to witness amazing change, amazing battles overcome and victories for families both biological and adoptive. This is what is means to FOSTER…to nurture, to help grow, and to instill HOPE. I am extremely passionate about the core value of what that truly means and I will continue to do what I can to spread this message to those that can help. Although I left the field and traded my social work "cape" for a toolbelt, I did not trade away my belief. My desire to continue to educate and uplift others to understand what it means to FOSTER, whether as a foster parent, a mentor, or to just FOSTER programs within child welfare. Making the decision to leave this field meant I left so many hardworking individuals to continue to fight the battles, the poverty, the abuse, the lack of resources, the courts, the hypocrisy that exists in all facets of a system, and this was very difficult. I told them I would not leave them entirely, that I will continue my work in a new way. I will continue to try and recruit and spread awareness of the need. When I started working with pallet wood a few years ago I was in shock of what could be done with a few simple broken and tattered pieces of wood. That is when it hit me, I was still FOSTERING. Pallets and older items that may end up in someone's trash, abandoned, no longer desired, used and abused; I was able to "FOSTER" them into something beautiful, useful and desired. There truly is beauty in everything if you just put forth the work. It takes time and patience, it takes hard work and a positive outlook. I am dedicating FOSTERWOOD to all those foster parents that have done the work, taken the time and have fostered beyond their heart to truly change the lives of others. To all the children that have done the work, never gave up, stood with resilience and overcame, they fostered and truly changed the lives of others. To all the hard working case workers, therapists, directors, program managers, adoption workers, support staff, transporters and all those that advocate for our families and youth currently in foster care, I have not left…I will dedicate to helping you continue your fight. I will FOSTERWOOD and in that FOSTER funds to assist in expanding trainings, recruitment and retention efforts for families and agency staff. FOSTER CHANGE, FOSTER HOPE, FOSTER LOVE….and sometimes it starts with a small piece of broken wood.
