Social Essays
Family
The process of finding Alanna and integrating her into her new family went surprisingly quickly, partly because Alanna was legally free and available for adoption, partly because there were competent case workers involved, and mainly because the family who were introduced to her were proactive, tenacious and ready to take on any problems that came up in order to adopt a little girl looking for the right family. Alanna’s actual adoption cannot begin until October, but her new family is committed to adopting her and they expect to be having a big celebration when Alanna’s adoption becomes official.
More information about fostering and foster adoption is available at these sites:
National Foster Parent Association: www.nfpainc.org/
Northwest Adoption Exchange: www.nwae.org
Neither of these sites were actually used in the search to find Alanna; the case workers within the system were the key people who brought together this child and the family waiting for her. The system is slow and flawed and the thousands of children being served are in need of loving and safe homes. The system makes it difficult to place children in permanent homes partly due to the policy of trying to return children to their birth parents, partly due to time delays and high turnover among staff within the system. Good case workers are essential in navigating the system successfully and Alisa and Luis were fortunate to work with several. Most potential adoptive families are not willing to take on the burden and risk of older children who have been abused and may act out aggressively, or have various levels of disabilities. Our society does not encourage people to risk, to give back, especially to reach out to children like these.
Alisa and Luis remain convinced that love is what all kids need. There are thousands of kids out there who need more love.
More information about fostering and foster adoption is available at these sites:
National Foster Parent Association: www.nfpainc.org/
Northwest Adoption Exchange: www.nwae.org
Neither of these sites were actually used in the search to find Alanna; the case workers within the system were the key people who brought together this child and the family waiting for her. The system is slow and flawed and the thousands of children being served are in need of loving and safe homes. The system makes it difficult to place children in permanent homes partly due to the policy of trying to return children to their birth parents, partly due to time delays and high turnover among staff within the system. Good case workers are essential in navigating the system successfully and Alisa and Luis were fortunate to work with several. Most potential adoptive families are not willing to take on the burden and risk of older children who have been abused and may act out aggressively, or have various levels of disabilities. Our society does not encourage people to risk, to give back, especially to reach out to children like these.
Alisa and Luis remain convinced that love is what all kids need. There are thousands of kids out there who need more love.