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 all they want is for someone to be there for them and to listen. You don't need to change every child's life, but you are probably already an important part of the life of a child, whether it is your own son or daughter (or "dogter"), or a child in your neighborhood or at the school where you work.

Take the time to listen to these children, and hear what it is that they have to say. What might seem meaningless and trivial to you might be all that they have. If you know of someone who has been removed from their home for whatever reason, be supportive of them and try to understand what they are going through in their young lives.

If that child happens to be older, pray for them that they may find a permanent home with a loving family, and that so many young people will not continue to be left to fend for themselves after turning 18. The system has failed them all their lives, and it doesn't need to continue into adulthood.

If you are a caseworker, foster parent, foster child, attorney, judge, CASA, therapist, teacher or any other person involved in the child welfare system, please contact me about submitting some information for this blog, or sharing your experiences. Together, we can make wonderful things happen. Thanks for stopping by.

-Bill