THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Thank you to the local businesses who sponsored this fundraiser.  We are so grateful for your generosity!  

Bighorn Design Studio

Real Deals

Roosters

Legacy Pregnancy Center

Arby's - Sheridan

Taco John's - Sheridan

609 Consulting, LLC

Crowley Fleck Attorneys

Eliason Financial

GUEST POST: CHURCH & FOSTER CARE

James 1:27 tells us that pure and undefiled religion is the care of orphans and widows in their distress, in other words God telling us,” hey”, if you want to be really religious do this, take care of the marginalized.  Stand in the gap for someone that desperately needs you to do that for them. In John 14:18 Jesus says that He will not leave us as orphans, but will come to us. He goes on to explain that we will feel His love because He and the Father will take us in, and we will experience His love and presence personally.  Who is the orphan, but the ones left alone and in need of the enveloping love of Jesus? Those who open their hearts and homes in Foster Care are active agents, manifesting the love of Jesus and practicing the purest and most undefiled form of religion. While being a foster parent is a calling, the care of the orphan extends far beyond that, there is a need for support and encouragement for these families, as well as actively pouring into and mentoring, grand parenting, etc. The church must demonstrate what family is, as well as set the foundation for understanding what a blessing a church family can be in one’s life. The church is an extended family that is called upon to perform various functions. How can we better support, encourage and pour into the children and families that are in the foster care system? It is the calling of the church but possibly one that we have too much delegated outside of the church. Challenge yourself today with how you might find a role, either opening your home or supporting those who have, if the church doesn’t display Jesus who will?

Be Blessed

Tri Robinson

Pastor, The Rock Church

FACILITIES FOR YOUTH

The four organizations serving youth in Sheridan are NSI, Wyoming Boys School, Wyoming Girls School, and Milestones. Below is information about each one - directly from their websites.  

Normative Services Academy NSI

Normative Services, Inc. (NSI), a Sequel Youth Services program located just outside Sheridan, WY.  NSI offers an array of services for today’s at-risk, adjudicated, and emotionally disturbed youth, while providing high quality academic, physical, and vocational education in a safe and nurturing environment.  NSI focuses on the therapeutic intervention and redirection of negative behavior, while recognizing desired positive behavior.  Throughout a student’s stay, he or she is challenged to analyze failures and experience success in nearly every area of life.

Wyoming Girls' School

The Wyoming Girls’ School is a therapeutic and educational facility for the treatment of court-ordered delinquent girls ages 12-21 years.

Staff members provide gender-specific support services focusing on mental health and substance abuse treatment, educational and life skills development.

The program teaches youth to take personal accountability for their actions and develop socially responsible values in preparation for a successful transition back to their family and community.

Wyoming Boys' School (located in Worland)

The Wyoming Boys' School is a secure facility providing adjudicated delinquent males ages 12-21 years with opportunities to make changes in their lives. Staff members provide supportive services focusing on psychological/emotional stability, educational and physical development,

and mental health therapies. Programs are specifically designed for youth to learn socially responsible values and life skills, restructure their critical thinking and prepare for a successful transition back to their families and communities.

Milestones Youth Home

Milestones Youth Home is a 10-bed residential facility for youth, ages 10-17, located on the VOA campus, in Sheridan, WY. Milestones provides a structured environment that includes education, preparation and advancement.  A behavior management system is in place whereby youth earn points, privileges and independence to empower them to learn self-reliance for future success.

Milestones also serves as a runaway/homeless youth shelter, which youth and families can access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Milestones staff will work with youth and their families to help them transition successfully back into the community. The staff is committed to caring for the youth and families through healthy and meaningful relationships. Providing opportunities for individual growth, recognition for achievement, support and advocacy. Safety and protection of youth is the number one priority and staff works to recognize and celebrate the strengths in each child. Where problems exist, staff work as a team with youth and other community agencies to find a long-term solution.

TRUE STORY: ADOPTION

In the summer of 2016, our family started the process to become licensed foster parents in the state of Wyoming.  We had done something similar in Nebraska and when we moved to Wyoming took a bit of a break to get settled.  Once we were settled, we talked to our kids and as a family decided to move forward.  The process for becoming foster parents required home visits, interviews, background checks, and classes.  Once we were done with that process, it was time to wait for a call from DFS. 

Our plan was to be foster parents.  Jon and I both come from a place of wanting to see families strengthened and reunification happen.  We had gotten to see this over and over while in Nebraska and celebrated the times that relationships were healed, and youth could go back home.  We knew our girls’ parents very well, they spent holiday meals with us, we talked to them regularly, and we wanted their families to succeed. 

During the licensing process, one of the questions we were asked was “who would fit best in your home?”  The answer, for us, was simple- teenage girls!  During our time in Nebraska, we grew to love our time spent with them and missed the dynamic that having older girls brought.  We knew that teenagers typically had a more difficult time finding foster homes and we wanted to provide a place where they were wanted.

On November 16, we received our report that said we were licensed and while I was reading the report, I got a phone call from DFS. The voice on the other end told me that there was a 7-year-old whose permanency plan included adoption and asked us to consider that.  This was a shock.  We had gone into foster care with the idea that we would not adopt.  The other important part of the call was that we needed to call back in the morning to give our answer.  When my husband got home from work, we did a lot of talking and even more praying and November 17 we called and said “yes”.   That weekend we met our daughter and the next weekend she started spending weekends with us.  We did that for 3 weekends and then she moved in for good on December 9, 2016.  

The process of adopting our daughter included the mandatory 6 months that we had to foster her as part of her permanency plan.  Through that process there were certainly ups and downs.  It can feel a bit like trying to navigate a new road while blindfolded.  Thankfully, we were committed to our daughter and despite some delays, we were able to celebrate her adoption on August 23, 2017.  It hit me while we were planning our party that from the day, we learned about her to the day we finalized her adoption, the process had taken 9 months.  The same amount of time that we had waited for our two older kids.  Nine months. 

It’s been three and a half years since we met our daughter, almost three since her adoption was finalized.  As time passes, some things get easier; for example, we know each other better, she knows holiday traditions, she has met most of the important people in our lives, she is familiar with rules and expectations, and she has made big gains in school and in therapy.  She loves to tell people that she is adopted, and she knows she is loved, and she is safe. 

THE LINK BETWEEN FOSTER CARE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

What are some of the challenges that you think youth in foster care face? Unstable home life, trouble keeping up in school, or aging out of the system may be some thoughts that come to mind. Becoming involved in the sex industry probably wasn’t even on your list. But the staggering truth is that an estimated 60 percent of Human Trafficking victims have been in the foster care system and most likely that number is higher. But why? Traffickers prey on vulnerabilities, and youth in foster care have many vulnerabilities because of the hardships of the system and their past home life.  

People often have a picture of Human Trafficking in their heads. It may look something like kids being abducted and taken across state lines in the back of a white van. Though that scenario does happen, it often can look much different. Traffickers are extremely skilled at spotting victims who are missing something in their lives; validation, love, protection, money. They can spend months of time building a false relationship with a victim and slowly isolating them, preparing them to be trafficked, we refer to this as grooming. It can happen in person, over the internet, or long distance. The truth is that it could happen to anyone, but our foster youth are particularly at risk.

So, what can you do? Consider attending a Rising Hope parenting workshop to educate yourself more on the dangers of Human Trafficking and how you can help keep your kids safe. Then consider enrolling your youth in the Rising Hope #NotANumber course. Youth ages 12-18 will spend several sessions discussing and participating in learning geared towards addressing their own vulnerabilities, how to keep themselves safe, how to build a support network, and what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like.

If you would like to learn more visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/risinghopesheridan or email us at RisingHopeSheridan@gmail.com.

THE GIRL WHO CHANGED MY HEART

For six years, our family lived at Boys Town.  If you aren’t familiar with Boys Town, here is a 10 second history lesson. While ministering to the ​homeless on the streets of Omaha, Nebraska, Father Edward Joseph Flanagan developed a lifelong interest in young people and their struggle to grow into responsible, productive members of society. Over 100 years later, Boys Town is still a place where children and families are valued and supported.  Our role at Boys Town was that of Family Teachers.  We had the privilege of living with almost 50 girls during our time there.  While it is true that each one brought something new to my life, there was one who changed my perspective on foster care.

In the days leading up to Josie* moving into our home, we had a meeting with our boss who told us “You need to read this file. She looks like a pretty tough kid.  I’m not sure she will make it here.  She has run away from almost every other placement and it looks like she is a pretty angry girl.”  I don’t remember any of the details, but the truth was, she did look rough. We had learned, however, that rarely does the paperwork tell the whole story.  What looks scary on paper could turn into easy and what looked easy on paper could turn our house upside down. 

The first thing that I realized when Josie moved in was how bright she was.  She was curious, she threw herself into her schoolwork, she asked for help when she needed it, and she liked to have deep conversations.  

As usually happened, I heard stories about her years in foster care.  I heard the stories behind why she would run away.  She shared stories of trying to get help from caseworkers only to be told “you are not being abused”.   She described the feeling of being told that “foster kids are dirty” and how she was made to sit at a separate table during meals and was only given tv dinners while the family ate their meals at the dining room table and was told not to ever walk on the carpet.  She told me stories of Christmas when she was given a package of men’s’ socks even though she knew that foster parents were getting a stipend. Sadly, these stories, though heartbreaking weren’t surprising.  After having many girls who had been in foster care, the stories weren’t new to me.  

The day that my heart was changed was the day she was talking to guests in our home and when she walked into the living room, she said “This is my favorite room because it is the first time in over 6 years that anyone has ever hung my picture on the wall.  I finally feel like I have people who don’t see me as disposable.”  Later, when the two of us were alone, I asked her about her comment and she said “if someone had hung my picture up, I could’ve dealt with all the other stuff and probably wouldn’t have run away.”  

From that point on, I realized that it’s easy to get caught up in worrying about feeling equipped to be a foster parent, worrying about deadlines and paperwork, worrying about home visits and therapy appointments, but at the heart of every one of us is the need to not feel disposable.  From that point on, one of the first things we did was hang up a picture of the youth in our home because, if we got everything else wrong, at least they would know that they weren’t disposable!

*name has been changed

SHERIDAN: HOPE PAGES

Hope Pages is part of Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange.  The team works with the community to provide tangible household supplies.  Services are utilized when a family is working towards reunifying after time in treatment, or even a teen aging out of foster care.  The goal is to help fully furnish an apartment and make it a home.

SHERIDAN: FOSTER PARENT EXCHANGE

Many times when kids come into foster care, they have only the clothing on their back.  Or, other times a trash bag of stained, too small, or mismatched clothing.  

Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange will deliver a kit with seven days of clothing and other important essentials.  Foster kiddos also get special gifts on Christmas and Easter.

SHERIDAN: COMPASS FOR FAMILIES

Compass for Families: Programs

One of the programs that we use as foster parents is Compass's Visitation Program.  When appropriate, DFS will schedule supervised visits for the birth parents and their children.  Foster parents will bring the child to Compass for scheduled visits - one to two times a week for anywhere from one to three hours.  

High Fidelity Wraparound is a program for kids who need something a little more than just standard therapy. The program essentially is essentially a "wraparound" approach for a child and their family.

Parenting classes are offered to all parents in the community.  DFS will sometimes make parenting classes part of a case plan for birth parents. Sometimes when abuse and neglect are generational, birth parents don't have a model to follow.  

Newly added in Sheridan within the past few years, is the Parent Liaison program. This is to increase communication between schools and parents.  The goal of the program is to increase graduation rates. Something to think about: when our youth don't graduate what does that mean for our society? More than half of those incarcerated did not finish high school. Furthermore, the cost on society is near $280,000 per dropout.  Education is KEY.

http://nextlevelwyo.org/

https://all4ed.org/take-action/action-academy/the-economic-case-for-reducing-the-high-school-dropout-rate/

https://www.theedadvocate.org/high-school-dropout-rate-causes-and-costs/

See Compass for Families website for more information on the services this wonderful organization provides for families and children in our community.

SHERIDAN: CASA VOLUNTEERS

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) - Program through Compass for Families that provides volunteer guardians ad litem for children who are involved in the juvenile court system due to abuse or neglect. National studies show that children who have CASAs are more likely to receive needed services and to be placed in a safe, permanent home than children who do not have a CASA volunteer.

See Compass for Families website for more information on the services this wonderful organization provides for families and children in our community.

ONE CARING ADULT

Josh Shipp

I hope you will take the time to watch the short video below.  Josh Shipp has an amazing message.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week:  teachers, coaches, school counselors, school nurses, principals, etc. - you often are the ONE CARING ADULT.  Over the years, many of you have said to our family - I could never do what you do.  Believe me, you do  - you really are that person for so many kiddos.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  The ones you can't exactly put your finger on what is going on at home, but you love them just a little bit extra during your time with them.  You know they need it.  Thank you for doing what you do.

FOSTER CARE - BEHIND THE SCENES

Jason Johnson

If a birth parent is unable to care for their child for one reason or another, Department of Family Services (DFS) will take legal custody.  The caseworker will ask the parents if there are any family in town that are able to care for them.  Relatives must be willing to do so and able to pass background checks.  If this is not possible, the child will enter foster care.  

Caseworkers and foster parents take calls at any time - whether it be holidays or middle of the night.  Most of the time the kids come into care with only the clothing on their backs.  

The birth parent then meets with DFS to develop a case plan.  That could include, but is not limited to: parenting classes, counselling, employment, safe housing, reliable transportation, treatment, random urinalysis drug testing, visitation, and compliance with any criminal court proceedings.

A team of people is assigned to the case and each person has their role.  They all work together to help the family reunify by developing a healthy relationship and maintaining a safe home.  The multidisciplinary (MDT) team meets approximately every three months and typically consists of the people below.

DFS Caseworker

Birth Parent(s)

Foster Parent(s)

Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)

County Attorney

Therapists, Child and/or Birth Parents, if Applicable

School Counselor, if Child is School Age

Attorney for Birth Parent(s)

There are a few court hearings involved over the course of a foster care case, too.  The Judge presiding over the case is provided with the MDT meeting minutes, is presented with recommendations, and listens to any updates presented in the courtroom.  We won't attempt to cover all the in's and out's of this process.  The purpose of this post is just to give you a glimpse of what is really going on behind the scenes - all in the name of the best interest of the child.

What Happens to Children that Age Out of Foster Care?

Aisha Nyandoro challenges us all to imagine being 18 years old, graduating from high school, and not having anyone to help you apply to college, find a job, or look for a place to live.  This is what can happen to the more than 28,000 children that age out of the United States foster care system each year.  

How does this happen?  When a child enters the foster care system, an effort is made to place them with a foster family.  If a foster family cannot be found, the child may be placed in institutions or group homes.  Here they remain until a foster placement occurs, or they reach adulthood. 

Regardless of placement status, most states remove children from the foster care system when they reach the age of 18.  The big difference is that those that were never placed don’t have a family support system to help them make the transition;  no one to call, no one to come to their aid, no one to turn for advice, no family to return to over the holidays.  Consequently, foster children who age out of the system face many problems and challenges.  Below are just a few statistics provided by the National Foster Youth Institute:   

•          20% of the children who were in foster care become instantly homeless.
•          Less than 3% of children who age out of foster care earn a college degree at any point in their life.
•          7 out of 10 girls who age out of the foster care become pregnant before the age of 21.
•          25% of children who age out of foster care still suffer from the direct effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
•          60% of young men who age out of foster care end up being convicted of a crime.  

There is always hope, and each one of us can make a positive difference in the life of an older child or young adult aging out of the foster care system.  Dr. John DeGarmo

outlines some practical things that could be done to help: 

•          Consider becoming a certified foster care parent, and be willing to take in older children.   That way when youth in foster care reach the age of 18 they are already part of a family and support system.   
•          If you can’t be a foster parent then be a mentor to older children and young adults by teaching them important life skills such as money management, communication skills, how to enroll in college, the importance of good health and hygiene, and how to cook meals and keep their living space clean.    
•          Consider tutoring. 
•          Help young adults find a career path, and get enrolled in a program to obtain those skills.
•          Donate household goods, furniture, and clothing to a local foster care agency.
•          Be willing to transport youth who have aged out of foster care by driving them to job interviews, doctor appointments, etc.
•          Teach a young adult how to drive.
•          If you own a business, consider hiring former foster youth, and train them with skills.
•          Be a friend, be willing to listen and be willing to help.

Every youth and young adult matters and needs the comfort and security of a safety net, and someone to rely on as they enter the world of adulthood.  We all have something that we can do to make a positive difference in the life of a young person.

TRUE STORY: A FAMILY'S REUNIFICATION

This year is the third anniversary of my sobriety.  It has not been an easy road, but it has been worth it.  I know I am strong.  I know I deserve a happy, healthy life.  Every day I make the commitment to myself and my family.

I grew up in Sheridan.  I have a wonderful, supportive, Christian family.  My parents, who are now retired, were respected well-known professionals in the community.  I also have an older sister who I am very close to.  I even went to college and obtained my nursing degree.

I have the disease of addiction and alcoholism.  This is a disease that is recognized by the American Medical Association.  This disease is progressive, and many times is fatal.  As a nurse, I intellectually understood this.  I never imagined that I would do the things that I did in order to satisfy a physical craving and mental obsession beyond my control.  It is important to understand that – no one wakes up one day and says, I think I will push my drinking to a whole new level and try out meth.  When you can stop using or drinking – you don’t want to.  Then when you do, finally, want to stop - you really, truly can’t.  I went to treatment a total of 5 times.  I wanted sobriety with everything in my being each of those times but could not maintain long term sobriety until this last time.  

May 2, 2016 was undoubtedly my rock bottom.  

This was the day that I took my last drink and the last shot of meth.  I was hopeless, paranoid, and knew I needed to quit and couldn’t.  Two women that I knew from the program of Alcoholics Anonymous took me to a meeting and stayed all night with me and my daughter.  In the morning, based on the advice from my sponsor in Alcoholics Anonymous, I went to the hospital to seek treatment for detox and referral to treatment.  I was in a meth-induced psychosis.  I was honest with the treating physician and social worker about my use and inability to stop.  My daughter was with me at the hospital.  I love my daughter more than anything and for some time had felt so terribly that she had a mother like me – how had it gotten to this point?

I was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment.  I was taken out of the Emergency Room in handcuffs and taken to jail later that morning.  My parents made the decision to have my daughter put in foster care to essentially save me.  They didn’t think I would get better if they took her.  They are very close to their grandchild, spending time with her every week, but they knew that it had to be done.  I was devastated.  My parents were divorced a long time ago and each remarried – since they passed a background check, they could coordinate with my daughters foster parents and spent one afternoon a week with her.  Looking back, I’m confident this is what helped me the most with my recovery.  I could not lose my daughter.

My family did not bail me out of jail and thank God for that.  They did faithfully visit me every week.  I also got letters with pictures of my daughter from her foster family.  Knowing she was safely with a good family, I started to focus on doing everything I could to “get it” this time.   I remained in jail for until a bed opened at VOA Treatment Center on August 24th.  I did not see my daughter until she was brought to visit me at treatment on September 10th.  It had been four months since I had hugged her.  I was excited, nervous, and scared.

I graduated the inpatient treatment program at VOA on November 18th with my parents, my daughter, and her foster mom by my side.  Shortly after that I got an apartment and a job.  I still have the same job over two years later.  I started outpatient treatment two months later and successfully completed that, too.  I continue to work on my recovery daily.  I can’t stay sober based upon what I did for my recovery yesterday.  I have a sponsor and work the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.  I continue to go the three to four AA meetings per week.  I sponsor three other recovering women in this program.  They say in order to keep recovery; you must give it away.  I also volunteer on a panel of recovering women that go to the VOA Gathering Place to talk to women still in treatment about the program of Alcoholics Anonymous and share my experience, strength, and hope.

My husband is also sober.  His sobriety date is two days after mine.  We went to marriage counselling and our relationship has never been better.  Our daughter is a happy, toothless kindergartner who has so many people that love her.

Department of Family Services and the court system was very supportive of reunification but also made sure I was willing to work for it.  They laid out the steps in front of me – very clear, high expectations.  That was my focus every day, getting myself better so that I could be the parent my daughter deserved.  There were some days that were very overwhelming – maintaining my sobriety, attending parenting classes, working full-time, counselling, etc. 

By the grace of God, I celebrate three years of sobriety.  I’m thankful for my family never giving up on me.  I’m grateful that I get to be a mom.  I would not be here without my sponsor and supportive friends.  I’m so happy for my second chance.

WAITING CHILDREN

Together We Rise

Earlier this week we told you about how there are 440,000 children in the foster care system.  Foster care is meant to be temporary while their parents are unable to care for them.  However, there are over 100,000 children waiting to be adopted.  By no fault of their own, these kiddos cannot return to their parents.  These kids all have names, hopes, and dreams.  For instance, there's...

Allen, 2nd grade, Colorado. Active and does well in school.

Miya, 4th grade, Wyoming. Enjoys arts, style, and wants to try gymnastics.

Tyiesha & Brittany, 6th grade, South Dakota. Not twins, but these sisters sound so sweet!

Tyler, 11th grade, Utah.  Spends his free time camping and snowboarding.

The movie Instant Family hit theaters this fall and is now available to watch in the comfort of your own home.  Did you see it?  What did you think?  We saw it (many times) and felt all the feels possible in a span of two hours - laughed, cried, and talked about so many of the scenes.  Our family enjoyed the movie and appreciated the realness of the it.  Definitely do not recommend it for children who have experienced trauma in foster care or perhaps adoption, and it is rated PG-13.  The movie highlights foster care, adoption of waiting children, and adoption of a sibling group.  Instant Family is based on a true story.

YOU Are The Village

When I saw the Tshirt choices, I immediately connected with the one that says
"We Are The Village". Right away, I thought of who needed them.
I know that there are mixed feelings about the phrase "It Takes A Village" but the
reality is that, in our lives, it HAS taken a village for us and YOU are the village.

In 2017, our family decided to become licensed foster parents in Wyoming.
We had an idea of who would fit best in our family and shared this through the
licensing process. When asked, "are you doing this to adopt?" we confidently
answered "no".

So- who needs a shirt that says "We Are The Village"? Here is my
answer:

To the teachers who have answered e-mails that said "today was a rough morning-
will you please remind our child that we love him/her?" YOU are the village.
To the friends who showed up and painted a bedroom pink, yellow, and teal;
YOU are the village.
To the people who gave us hand-me-downs because we had long ago grown out of
little sizes; YOU are the village.
To the friends who have taken time to listen to our kids; YOU are the village.
To the officers who take time to Shop With A Cop; YOU are the village.
To the teachers who understand that school can be overwhelming; YOU are the village.
To the friends who send Facebook messages; YOU are the village.
To the parents who offer rides to and from events because we can't always be
where we want to be; YOU are the village.
To the babysitters who understand that sometimes a few hours (or days) away
brings LIFE; YOU are the village.
To the ones who showed up in the courtroom and celebrated at the party afterward;
YOU are the village.
To the people who have never met our family, but have heard a prayer request through
friends or family and faithfully prayed; YOU are the village.
To the Sunday School teachers who have loved our kids and have taught them
how much Jesus loves them; YOU are the village.
To the coaches who have patiently taught the rules over and over again; YOU are the village.
To the caseworkers who answer phone calls from us; YOU are the village.
To those who have sent cards of encouragement; YOU are the village.
To the friends who have been there for us in the ups and downs of this journey; YOU are the village.
To the mental health professionals who give so much to our family; YOU are the village.
To the classmates who have been kind; YOU are the village.
To our families who have accepted a new sister, niece, cousin, and granddaughter; YOU are the village.
To the pediatricians who have printed out growth charts of a whole life and whispered,
"because Moms need to know how much their kids have grown"; YOU are the village.
To the principals who have been creative in ways to address behavior and
see the bigger picture; YOU are the village.
To the people who understand that some conversations have both laughter and tears; YOU are the village.
To other foster parents who have said "I understand"; YOU are the village.
To the parents who have told their kids, "she needs a friend"; YOU are the village.
To the lawyers and judge who made this family official; YOU are the village.

So, who did I think of when I saw the shirt that says "We Are The Village"?
All of you who have come together to support, love, encourage, challenge,
and walk with us and from the very bottom of our hearts~ we can't say "Thank You" enough!

~ Jon & Betsy Tengesdal

The link to the Tshirt is HERE (or click on the link that says "Fundraiser"!)

MORE THAN NUMBERS...

The numbers of children in foster care are alarming:

60 Sheridan County 

1,100 Wyoming

440,000 Nationwide

Numbers are numbers.  You may see those digits and just go on with your day without giving it a second thought.  I hope you don't.  I challenge you to think the numbers as individual children with names, hopes, and dreams.  They are kids just like yours and mine.  These kids have parents too.  Once you hear their stories, you'll stop thinking of them as simply a statistic.

Why do kids come into care into foster care in Wyoming?  The biggest reasons are neglect, drug and alcohol abuse, and physical or sexual abuse.

The average age of a child in foster care is 8 years old.  Most children spend a little over a year in foster care and more than half are reunited with their parents.  Another quarter of the children will be adopted.  Sadly, some will age out of foster care.

NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH

May is National Foster Care Month.  It is a month dedicated to the all the children in the foster care system.  A time for us to pause and consider what role we can play in their lives.  We've partnered with Bighorn Design Studio to bring you meaningful shirts to raise funds for local foster care organizations.  We also hope to increase awareness about foster care.

2019's theme is
           Foster Care as a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents

Over the next month, we'll be discussing a variety of topics related to foster care.  We hope you'll follow along.  Support foster care in our community - shop now!