Kansas officials see family ties as key for foster children

Kansas officials see family ties as key for foster children - Houston Chronicle:

Black: "The child is our client. It is a service for children and so we are trying to maintain those family connections."

Gilmore: Foster parents "cannot assume that they will be adopting any child that comes into their home. ... There's some degree of risk-taking with foster care."                                 Black: "That's the purpose of the people becoming foster parents, is to be temporary family until that child can move to a permanent placement, either back home with their birth family or with extended relatives."                                                                                             Gilmore: "The focus is on the child, not the foster parents."

Missing foster children the highest in South East and London

Missing foster children the highest in South East and London (From News Shopper):

New figures show that the South East and London have the highest percentages of foster children that have gone missing across the whole of England.

The numbers, published by Ofsted, highlight similar trends from previous years - six percent of cases in the south east and five percent in London - the highest proportions of missing children in the country.

Man Claims He Got Foster Child Pregnant With A Syringe

Man Claims He Got Foster Child Pregnant With A Syringe:

A man’s 13-year-old foster child became pregnant, and he’s accused of raping her. However, his excuse for how she ended up with child brought out the anger of the prosecutor looking over his case. New York Daily News reports that a Nebraska man, Brandon Weathers, denies raping the young girl, but his excuse for how she ended up pregnant is downright stupefying.

Cases of ADHD surge in US kids

Cases of ADHD surge in US kids | Ars Technica:

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder among children in the US, is becoming even more commonly diagnosed, according to a new analysis of nationwide data.

Message To Austin Knightly AKA Our Stolen Grandson

Austin, I know you must be reading my blog by now and I'm sure you must have a Facebook page. You're almost 16 years old and I'm sure you know we are searching for you and always have been.
I just don't understand why you haven't tried to contact any of your REAL family.
Has the medication the State drugged you with caused you to forget all of us, just as it caused you to forget your Aunt? You know, the Aunt who tried to save you from being beaten at your Birthday party? Have you been that badly brainwashed that you believe we abandoned you, which we didn't.
We have never stopped fighting for your return. The State was too busy slandering all of us. They didn't want you with us. They knew they could make more money off of you in Foster care and then to adopt you out to stranger's.
We love and miss you and can't wait for the day we can show you all the proof of your ILLEGAL Kidnapping and ILLEGAL adoption. We still have your dog Belle, though I don't know how much longer she will be around to see you again. For that matter, I hope Grampie and I get to see you again before it's too late. Please contact us. We live in the same house and I still have the same car, which I kept all these years in case you saw me.
It sure would make for a nice Christmas to finally hear from you. You're still Grampie's buddy and he misses you so much, it would make for the best Christmas ever.
Love always, Grammie and Grampie

Bill aims to keep siblings together in foster care

Bill aims to keep siblings together in foster care:
LANSING — Bills requiring child-placing agencies to make reasonable efforts to keep siblings together in the foster care and adoption systems have advanced in Michigan's Legislature.

Foster Mom Reflects on Family Unification, Separation

Foster Mom Reflects on Family Unification, Separation | Youth Today:

My daughter called yesterday with some exciting news. She has decided to go back to school to be a social worker. I almost choked. I see social workers as the people who ruined her childhood. She sees them as the friends on the other end of the phone who got her through it.