Ten Ways You Can Support Youth in Foster Care

On any given day in America, more than 500,000 children and youth are in foster care. There are many ways to make a difference in their lives.

1. Be a foster parent.
Make a real and lasting difference by sharing your home, time, energy, and love with a child, a youth, or a sibling group in need of a permanent home. Interested? Contact Families 4 Alabama’s Kids at 1-866-4-AL-Kids or visit http://www.dhr.alabama.gov/

2. Be an adoptive parent.
An adopted child or youth offers the same joys and responsibilities as a birth child. Make a lifelong commitment to the well-being and progress of an adopted child. Interested? Contact Families 4 Alabama’s Kids at 1-866-4-AL-Kids or visit http://www.dhr.alabama.gov/

3. Be a volunteer advocate in court.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are trained citizens appointed by judges to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. Interested? Call CASA Network in Alabama at 1-877-625-2272 or check them out on the web at http://www.alabamacasa.org/

4. Be a mentor.
Mentors make a difference. Research shows that children and youth with mentors earn higher grades and report improved relationships with their friends and families. Interested? Call 334-353-3100 or visit http://www.mentor.alabama.gov/

5. Support foster youth in college and vocational school.
Giving scholarship money helps alumni of foster care pursue the education they dream about. Interested? Contact the Orphan Foundation of America.

6. Provide employment and training opportunities.
Help a youth in foster care explore career options and find a job. Interested? Contact the Department of Human Resources in your county.

7. Be an advocate for change.
Improve the lives of youth by educating and informing policy makers about the problems facing foster children in America. Interested? Contact: Voice for Alabama’s Children at 1-800-444-5437 or 334- 213-2410 or visit http://www.alavoices.org/

8. Learn more about foster care and adoption.
Stay informed about foster care and child welfare issues. Interested? Contact the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, 1-888-545-2372 or visit http://www.afapa.org/

9. Get involved with foster care in your local community.
Make connections with others who are working to improve outcomes for youth and families. Interested? Contact the Department of Human Resources, Family Services Office in your county.

10. Contribute financially.
A donation, no matter the size, can make a big difference in the lives of families, youth, and children. Interested? Donations can be made to the Alabama Foster Care Trust Fund. Call 334-242-9500 and ask for Office of Foster Care.

10 Really Great Reasons to Adopt a Teen

These are 10 really great reasons to adopt a teen from a teen's perspective.

1. No formula, diapers, bottles or burp rags required.

2. We sleep through the night… even if our parents won’t.

3. We will be ready to move out sooner… but we’ll always come home to visit

4. We can program cell phones & VCR’s and teach you how to run your computer!

5. We will keep you up to date with the latest fashions and trends.

6. Once we get our permits, we can drive you to places.

7. You don’t just get a child, you get a friend.

8. We can pick up after ourselves and do our own laundry.

9. We will teach you how to be more patient, understanding, kind and empathetic.

10. We all need someone to share our life dreams, achievements and holidays with.

Introduction to Adoption

At any given time in the state of Alabama, hundreds of children in foster care are awaiting a loving and caring adoptive home. Many have never felt the warmth and joy that comes from a forever family. Most have been placed in agency custody due to parental neglect or physical abuse. The good news is that the lives of these children can be brightened forever by just one person - you. By adopting a child, you not only help a child grow up in a loving and caring environment, you share in the vision of a bright, positive future. Adoption not only enriches the life of a child, but enriches yours as well. The Department of Human Resources recruits and prepares families willing to open their hearts and homes to waiting children.

The Department of Human Resources charges no fees for the adoption home study (which includes 30 hours of training) nor for the placement of children.

Many of the children awaiting a family have special needs. These are wonderful children from a variety of backgrounds. Some may require extra guidance and love for them to realize their full potential. Others may require more dedicated care and attention due to their physical or emotional issues. Regardless, all of these children need a forever home. Children with special needs may qualify for financial assistance, called adoption subsidy, and Medicaid.

Who are "special needs" children?
• Generally healthy, average children over age 8 of all backgrounds and children of African
American heritage over age 2.

• Children with a background of parental substance abuse, mental illness or mental retardation that places them at risk.

• Children with various degrees of documented mental, physical or emotional disabilities.

• Sibling groups of 3 or more to be placed in the same home at the same.