Page 16 - Our Hands Spring 2020

FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION

Story and images provided by Fox 17 West Michigan
KENT COUNTY - The
coronavirus pandemic has
put a "pause" on many things,
Going Online to Keep but it could not stop one
couple in Grand Rapids from
finalizing their adoption this
Foster Care week.
Robert and Latricia Trice
Going Strong officially added three-year-
old A'Rayah Lillian, and
one-year-old Olivia Grace to
their family, during a special
ceremony on Zoom Tuesday.

"It was so important for us,
because we could have just had the judge sign some papers and put them in the mail, but it was so important for us to
have this ceremony and have people be involved," Robert told FOX 17 News.
The couple already shared a seven-year-old biological son, when they began fostering the sisters 15 months ago.
They took in Olivia Grace at just three days old.
As we shelter in place to prevent the spread of the corona virus, we Orientations From Home
look to family for protection, comfort, hope and help. But for some "They're amazing. They actually blessed our lives. Even though we were nervous about it, they've definitely enhanced our
children, home is not a safe place to be. And without the helpful Foster parent orientation sessions, where you learn about the process, life and our family, for sure," said Latricia.
oversight of mandated reporters such as teachers and coaches, there are the procedures, the requirements and the regulations, are now online, The girls are cousins of Latricia, who stepped in after learning they would be placed in foster care.
children who are spending this quarantine in fear or neglect, or both. held on the Zoom platform. Typically, our foster parent recruiters are
out and about in the community, going to events, hosting gatherings, The family knew the long awaited "adoption day" would happen sometime this Spring, but never could have
Samaritas Child and Family leadership recognized, early on in the sponsoring and holding promotional activities where we educate people expected that local courthouses and much of the state of Michigan would be shut down due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 crisis, that the business of foster care was going to have to about the need for foster parents (Over 14,000 children are in foster
change, to accommodate the new normal care in Michigan and we expect those numbers to rise The couple had been working with Judge Richard LaFlamme in Jackson County during their journey, and asked if
of sheltering at home. Our case workers, significantly once the shelter in place order is lifted) and he would be willing to try something new to complete the adoption process.
licensing workers and foster parent recruiters who can be a foster parent (hint: it’s men, women, married,
have been working steadily with state and single, in a relationship, a homeowner, an apartment "For me it was important, so I actually asked the question, can we do Zoom? Is that an option so I can have my family
federal organizations to bring visitations and renter…if you have a home and an open heart, we will work and caseworkers who have been a part of the journey?" said Latricia. "For us, it was like I wanted that moment, and I
family support online, and transition foster with you)! But without those community connections, we wanted to close this the right way."
parent orientation to an online platform. During a short ceremony, they vowed to be committed parents as loved ones shared the screen and watched.
are relying on social media and news media to help us get
We mobilized our workforce and armed the word out about the need and the opportunity. "The girls got to do the 'air gavel' after he said their names and went through the process," Robert explained.
them with tablets, laptops and Zoom We are anticipating that this will be the way foster care is
subscriptions so the challenging work of handled for the near future. On one hand, losing that face Latricia added, "And then everybody cheered. And [the judge] said usually if we were in person we would hug and all
keeping Michigan’s foster children safe, to face contact is disappointing—but with the introduction, that, but you can just air hug...It was very emotional."
connected to birth parents, and firmly expansion and enhancement of online resources, we look The couple added the girls' older brother, and their grandparents were also a part of the ceremony.
on their path to returning home moving forward to increasing our communication with our foster
forward, but online. They encourage other families to open their hearts and consider fostering/adopting, if they're able. For more
parents, making it easier to them to schedule trainings and information on creating your Forever Family through LAS, visit lasadoption.org.
Our foster parent portal, already up visits. And we can hold more orientations sessions with
and running for important trainings, potential foster parents if we can schedule them online.
documents and guidance on moving through the application and Your support for these new endeavors is key—we need more hardware,
licensing process, was enhanced and its scope broadened. It now like tablets and laptops, to better equip our workforce and our foster
includes trauma-informed parenting classes, and a chat room where parents. We need more Zoom licenses, so more orientation and training Help spread the word about the need for
potential foster parents can communicate openly and honestly, in a can happen with more people. And we need foster parents. People who foster care in Michigan.
judgement free environment, about issues, concerns, and just plain know that by opening their hearts and their homes, they can make a
parenting in these unusual times.
huge difference in the life of a child. At Samaritas, the state’s largest private foster
care organization, we can only take about 35%
of the cases that come to us. We simply don’t
MAY IS F O STER C ARE AWARENESS MONTH!
have enough foster parents to meet the ever
Every year Samaritas, the state’s largest private foster care organization, has a May Blitz increasing need.
to raise awareness of just how many kids need foster care in Michigan (hint: it’s thousands).
We light buildings up purple - because #ItTakesAPurpleVillage and put up lawn signs
around town and this year we are creating window clings for cars and businesses. Five Go online at samaritas.org/fostercare to
dollars from every window cling sale will be donated to Samaritas' Foster Care services. learn more about how you can take an online
We are also asking families to share their “foster parent fail” stories with us so we can share class and become licensed as a foster parent.
them on our social platforms - because you don’t have to be perfect to be a perfectly
wonderful foster parent! So be sure to follow Samaritas on social media this May!

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