A child is four times more likely to die in the Texas foster care system than outside it, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said Friday, releasing data on foster care deaths, poisonings, rapes and pregnancies.

"Many children are in more abusive situations now than they were before the state intervened," said Strayhorn, an independent gubernatorial candidate, at a press conference where she was flanked by children's advocates. "Children are being neglected, abused and are dying."

This, from the Houston... more

Here are this week’s news headlines from around the country:

Family offers support and patience in dealing with a sexually abused boy. The Ruths opened their hearts and their home to a then 7 year old boy, and nurtured him back to health. He is now 25 and doing well.

There were 400 foster homes lost in Lousiana, due to the devastation of hurricane Katrina. These two ladies, a mother and daughter team, lended a hand and helped at... more

Welcome to the foster care blog at adoptionblogs.com. Join me as I discuss foster care and how I think it needs to be changed. I am not alone in thinking this way, and in fact there is a national movement, spearheaded by The Pew Commission, Casey Family Programs and many others, to make a system that works for everyone, especially the children.

I am a former CASA, and have worked with children in settings ranging from the Boys and Girls Clubs to juvenile probation. Through my years of working with children, I have realized that... more

As we move on to foster care in Connecticut, I am reminded of the need for a common way for all the states to handle foster care. The idea that the federal government provides funding for foster care for each state, with no direction on what to do and how, is pretty crazy, especially when the states try to get creative in solving the problem, and are then limited by the federal guidelines.

Connecticut’s reform efforts have been hampered by rigid federal financing rules that stifle innovation and severely... more

We were almost on ABC’s World News Tonight. Still awaiting word if it aired or is going to air in the near future. Meanwhile, ABC did come through for a deserving family in the Peyton, CO area last July.

Billy Jack and Anne Barrett opened their homes and hearts to two children that had experienced serious neglect in their early lives, and their caregivers struggled with substance abuse. A.J. and Jennifer were both fortunate to have CASAs involved in their cases. Initially, A.J. needed professional therapy for RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder. More info on RAD, from our own RAD blogger, Nancy.), and Jennifer needed medical... more

This week’s foster care in the news… When Tom and Kelly Hogeman learned they couldn’t have any more children, they began exploring domestic and international adoptions. But the astronomical costs — sometimes up to $20,000 — deterred them from the process. They ended up joining the local foster care program as a foster-adopt family about seven months ago. Since then, they have become licensed foster parents, and are awaiting their first placement. (Full Story).

It appears that the squabble over money between Central Florida and the local Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been resolved. Now they... more

I just got this email from Youth Communications, about their new magazine, Rise. It is published three times a year and includes stories by parents in preventive services, dealing with an investigation, or with children in foster care. Youth Communication has published articles by parents in its foster care magazine, Represent, for years, but this is the first publication just for parents of children in care.

NY1 ran a segment on Rise on May 15th, and you can view the video and read more about it here. The NY1 story features Rosita Pagan,... more

I’m taking a break from the state thing for a moment, to bring you some important news. Casey Family Programs honored Thomas L. Birch, legislative counsel of the National Child Abuse Coalition, at a reception Thursday evening, May 18th, at The Willard Hotel, in Washington, D.C.

“Tom Birch has worked tirelessly to assure that the needed legislative and fiscal resources are in place to bring awareness and action around preventing child maltreatment,” said William C. Bell, president and CEO of Casey Family Programs. “His committed efforts have been critical in protecting and keeping children safe... more

I was just reading about some reforms in foster care that are being considered in foreign countries like Scotland. The BBC News had an article about limiting the number of foster children per household to three. This makes a lot of sense to me, in that it would provide more individual attention per child, and help the foster parents more effectively deal with any individual issues a child may have.

In the case of our daughter, she came from a foster home that had seven or eight children in it, and now, as an only child, she has no idea what to do with herself. And the foster family never really got to know her... more

Now, on to one of my favorite states! I love Colorado, and that wonderful adoption caseworker who united us with our daughter. In exactly one week, the adoption will be finalized! Woo-hoo! Thank you, Jody, for all that you have done for Jessica and for us.

Since you have heard a lot about Colorado from our wonderful fostadopt blogger Michelle, I won’t spend a whole lot of time on Colorado services, at least no more than the other states. If you are looking for some good contact information on Colorado foster care services,... more