We're excited to debut the National Heart Gallery Exhibit in Iowa this week!
This traveling photography exhibit features 50 larger-than-life portraits of children from across the country who waiting to be adopted from foster care and who represent nearly all 50 states. After premiering in Washington, D.C., on Capitol Hill last November, it has traveled to New York, the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, California and now on to Iowa for May's National Foster Care Month!
When you're a child or teen, it can be hard to wait for anything. It can be hard to wait for recess. It can be hard to wait for your birthday. It can be hard to wait to get your driver's license or to be asked to prom.
Imagine what it's like to wait for a family.
There are over 408,000 children in foster care in the U.S., and about 107,000 are waiting to be adopted into a forever family. How fitting this exhibit premiers on a weekend when we celebrate the importance of mothers, the importance of family, in a child's life.
These may be larger-than-life portraits, but the truth is that these kids don't need larger-than-life families. They just need ordinary, everyday people who are willing to open their homes and hearts to provide the caring guidance and support that every child deserves in his or her life.
Check out the National Heart Gallery Exhibit at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines from May 9 - 15 and at the Sioux City Public Museum from May 17 - May 30.
Take a peek behind the scenes at the set-up this week!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
May is National Foster Care Month!
May is National Foster Care Month!
There are over 408,000 children in foster care in the U.S., and each one deserves a permanent connection to a safe, supportive and caring adult. Thanks to Iowa's resource families who open up their hearts and homes to help make this happen!
We'll have lots of events going on during May to help raise awareness of Iowa's ongoing need for foster and adoptive parents, including the kickoff of welcoming the National Heart Gallery Exhibit to Iowa.
This is an amazing traveling photography exhibit that features larger-than-life portraits of 50 children from across the country who are waiting to be adopted from foster care. First premiering on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., last November, the National Heart Gallery Exhibit celebrates the 10th anniversary of the first state Heart Gallery.
We're very excited to bring this compelling exhibit to Iowa! You can check it out on May 9 - 15 at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines or May 17 - 30 at the Sioux City Public Museum.
You're also invited to join us for a special kickoff event on Saturday, May 12, at 1 p.m. at Valley West Mall where Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a foster care and adoption advocate, will help us welcome this national exhibit to Iowa.
Stay tuned to our website throughout May and June for some special foster care and adoption appreciation events for families!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Resolutions that can last a lifetime
As many of us start on New Year's resolutions (or break them!), a Latino community blogger and Iowa KidsNet staff in Des Moines has a suggestion for Latino families out there: Consider a resolution that can last a lifetime, and explore foster care and adoption.
While Latinos are about ten percent of our capital city's population, they represent over 15% of the kids placed in foster care. These kids tend to be predominantly Spanish-speaking and from multigenerational households.
Having a foster family who shares a child's culture can be an important asset for children who have been removed from their homes and can reduce some of their shock, trauma and confusion. And when there is no such foster home available, foster parents of any ethnic background can - and often do - help keep a cultural link between a child and his or her heritage.
Here's an excerpt from Christina's post. You can read the full blog at the link below.
["Imagine this: The date is December 24th of any given year and you are a four-year old Mexican-American boy who has not yet learned English. You have just been placed in a foster home where no one speaks your language and cannot comfort you, reassure you that you will be safe, tell you what to expect, or when you will see your parents again. You cannot tell them that milk and cheese make your tummy hurt, or that you can’t sleep without your stuffed frog that you fear is lost forever. Everyone smiles at you and speaks loudly and slowly in a language you are only vaguely familiar with. They offer you a plate roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. You see the Christmas tree in the corner and wonder when the tamales and champurrado will be served. You feel terrified, confused, abandoned, sad and helpless...."]
Read more of Christina's thoughts here.
You'd be surprised how much you, your family, your church, your business or your community organization can offer to make a difference for youth in foster care. If you're interested in learning more, go here.
Thanks, and Happy New Year!
While Latinos are about ten percent of our capital city's population, they represent over 15% of the kids placed in foster care. These kids tend to be predominantly Spanish-speaking and from multigenerational households.
Having a foster family who shares a child's culture can be an important asset for children who have been removed from their homes and can reduce some of their shock, trauma and confusion. And when there is no such foster home available, foster parents of any ethnic background can - and often do - help keep a cultural link between a child and his or her heritage.
Here's an excerpt from Christina's post. You can read the full blog at the link below.
["Imagine this: The date is December 24th of any given year and you are a four-year old Mexican-American boy who has not yet learned English. You have just been placed in a foster home where no one speaks your language and cannot comfort you, reassure you that you will be safe, tell you what to expect, or when you will see your parents again. You cannot tell them that milk and cheese make your tummy hurt, or that you can’t sleep without your stuffed frog that you fear is lost forever. Everyone smiles at you and speaks loudly and slowly in a language you are only vaguely familiar with. They offer you a plate roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. You see the Christmas tree in the corner and wonder when the tamales and champurrado will be served. You feel terrified, confused, abandoned, sad and helpless...."]
Read more of Christina's thoughts here.
You'd be surprised how much you, your family, your church, your business or your community organization can offer to make a difference for youth in foster care. If you're interested in learning more, go here.
Thanks, and Happy New Year!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Angels in Adoption
We're privileged this week to share a story from one of Iowa's 2011 Angels in Adoption nominees, the McIntyre family!
Angels in Adoption is a terrific program from the Congressional Coalition for Adoption Institute, which allows members of Congress to honor selfless individuals, organizations and families who have made extraordinary contributions for children who needing loving homes.
Past recipients include some pretty good company, such as Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, First Lady Laura Bush,
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Kristin Chenoweth, Rhea Perlman, Bruce
Willis, Al Roker, Muhammad Ali, Patti LaBelle, Jane Seymour, Henry
Winkler and CBS Studios.
Learn more about one of our Iowa nominees and their unique experience celebrating adoption on Capitol Hill!
Making a difference as the McIntyre family
Dee
McIntyre first learned about foster care as a nurse in southwest Iowa. She was
on her evening shift one night when a six-year-old boy was waiting in the
emergency room for his relatives to arrive.
Dee’s heart went out to him, and she immediately wondered if she could take him home to their family for the night until his family arrived. When she was told that she would need to be a licensed foster family to care for him, it sparked her awareness of the ongoing need for foster and adoptive homes in her area.
In 2002, Dee and her husband Ken received their foster care license. Fast forward nine years, and they have now adopted four children from foster care – Aubrey, 11; Dillon, 10; Sam, 9; and Abby, 8.
In October, Dee, Dillon and Sam traveled to Washington, D.C., as one of Iowa’s “Angels in Adoption” nominees, nominated by Rep. Steve King (R-IA).
The family participated in a breakfast and resource fair, a bus tour of the Capitol and other historic sites, an evening gala and many other events. A highlight, Dee said, was meeting former foster youth who were now interning at the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
“The entire trip was so uplifting,” Dee said. “I just want to share it with everyone. You hear a lot of difficult stories sometimes, and it was so incredible to see former foster youth who had made it and were having success as young adults.”
Dee’s heart went out to him, and she immediately wondered if she could take him home to their family for the night until his family arrived. When she was told that she would need to be a licensed foster family to care for him, it sparked her awareness of the ongoing need for foster and adoptive homes in her area.
In 2002, Dee and her husband Ken received their foster care license. Fast forward nine years, and they have now adopted four children from foster care – Aubrey, 11; Dillon, 10; Sam, 9; and Abby, 8.
In October, Dee, Dillon and Sam traveled to Washington, D.C., as one of Iowa’s “Angels in Adoption” nominees, nominated by Rep. Steve King (R-IA).
The family participated in a breakfast and resource fair, a bus tour of the Capitol and other historic sites, an evening gala and many other events. A highlight, Dee said, was meeting former foster youth who were now interning at the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
“The entire trip was so uplifting,” Dee said. “I just want to share it with everyone. You hear a lot of difficult stories sometimes, and it was so incredible to see former foster youth who had made it and were having success as young adults.”
 |
| They've got our votes! Sam and Dillon pause in front of the White House. |
Her
young sons, Dillon and Sam, were proud to be in attendance, she said.
“Everywhere we went they were excited to tell people they were in Washington, D.C. for an ‘adoption award,’ whether it was the bus driver or a doorman,” Dee said with a laugh.
Their journey didn’t end there. For November’s National Adoption Month, Dee, Dillon and Sam shared their Angels in Adoption adventures with a foster and adoptive parent support group in Southwest Iowa.
And that’s only one example of how many other families across Iowa are spreading the word this November, all sharing their hearts and voices to make a difference.
Thanks to the McIntyres for sharing their experiences with us, and congratulations to all the families who will be adopting at Iowa's six National Adoption Day events this weekend!
“Everywhere we went they were excited to tell people they were in Washington, D.C. for an ‘adoption award,’ whether it was the bus driver or a doorman,” Dee said with a laugh.
Their journey didn’t end there. For November’s National Adoption Month, Dee, Dillon and Sam shared their Angels in Adoption adventures with a foster and adoptive parent support group in Southwest Iowa.
And that’s only one example of how many other families across Iowa are spreading the word this November, all sharing their hearts and voices to make a difference.
Thanks to the McIntyres for sharing their experiences with us, and congratulations to all the families who will be adopting at Iowa's six National Adoption Day events this weekend!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Happy National Adoption Month!
Happy National Adoption Month!
It's an exciting time to celebrate adoption and also to raise awareness for the more than 107,000 children across the nation who are still waiting to be adopted from foster care into forever families.
We've been hearing a lot of great adoption stories already leading up to November.
Like the couple in their mid-twenties who adopted a pre-teen and will be adopting another child this month.
Or, the mother who became a foster and adoptive parent simply because she heard an ad on her local radio station that kids needed homes.
Like the single mother adopting a 15-year-old girl, giving her a place to call home as she moves into her young adult years.
Or, like the family with five adopted children, who believes there is always more room at the table.
There are literally thousands of stories of people building positive, permanent connections for kids, and we're lucky to hear even a few of them every day.
If you've ever considered becoming a foster or adoptive parent or wondered how you could help, National Adoption Month is a great time to get involved!
Find a local candlelight vigil on our website, or download some of our resources to use in your community. Or, meet children waiting to be adopted right here in Iowa.
Thanks to all those making a difference in the lives of children in foster care!
P.S. Make sure you like us on Facebook, so you can keep up with news about National Adoption Month, including some fun giveaways starting on Monday, November 7!
It's an exciting time to celebrate adoption and also to raise awareness for the more than 107,000 children across the nation who are still waiting to be adopted from foster care into forever families.
We've been hearing a lot of great adoption stories already leading up to November.
Like the couple in their mid-twenties who adopted a pre-teen and will be adopting another child this month.
Or, the mother who became a foster and adoptive parent simply because she heard an ad on her local radio station that kids needed homes.
Like the single mother adopting a 15-year-old girl, giving her a place to call home as she moves into her young adult years.
Or, like the family with five adopted children, who believes there is always more room at the table.
There are literally thousands of stories of people building positive, permanent connections for kids, and we're lucky to hear even a few of them every day.
If you've ever considered becoming a foster or adoptive parent or wondered how you could help, National Adoption Month is a great time to get involved!
Find a local candlelight vigil on our website, or download some of our resources to use in your community. Or, meet children waiting to be adopted right here in Iowa.
Thanks to all those making a difference in the lives of children in foster care!
P.S. Make sure you like us on Facebook, so you can keep up with news about National Adoption Month, including some fun giveaways starting on Monday, November 7!
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