Page 71 - 2017-12-16_june_july_2009.qxd
P. 71
Help A Child In Foster This Christmas 71
How to Help a Child in
Foster Care this
Christmas
By. Dr. John DeGarmo
The holiday season; a time for joy, a time for
happiness. Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years,
Kwanzaa; a time of giving and of family. It is a
time of wonder and excitement for millions of
children across the nation, and across the globe.
It is a time when memories are made, and love is
shared.
Yet, for so many children in the foster
care system, it is anything but a time of joy, a
time of excitement. Indeed, it is just the
opposite. ‘Tis the season? Not for the roughly
half a million children in foster care in the
United States. It is often a time of great sadness
and despair. For these children, it is a reminder
other times of the year. This might also include
of so much anxiety and trauma in their young Disclosure Radio/TV Network
helping out school supplies at the beginning of
lives. Many foster children are faced with the Dream Maker Media
the school year, birthdays, paying for school
realization that they will not be “home for the Euro Radio/TV Network
field trips and summer camps, and other
holidays,” so to speak, with their biological Hamilton TV Network
activities that are special to the child. Indeed,
family members. It is a reminder that they are Haunted Kitchens TV Show
many foster parents simply cannot afford to
separated from their parents and family. provide all of the opportunities to their foster He Says She Says Radio/TV Show
Do you remember waking up as a child child; opportunities that help the child escape Investigations 36;
on Christmas morning? If you were like me, IPBN Radio/TV Network
from their trauma, and opportunities to heal
you couldn’t wait to get your parents up, and IPBN Music Network
from their suffering. When we all come
dash into the room where your Christmas tree Magical Mystical Tours
together to help the child in foster care in such a
was. Wrapping paper flying, screams of joy and Mutual Broadcast Network, Canada
way, we are all helping to not only bring some
surprise, great food, family surrounding you; it Mutual Broadcast Network, International
holiday cheer to a child in need, we are changing
was truly a magical day. News Zine Communications
the life of a child.
For children in foster care, though, it is a News Zine Publications
After all, isn’t that what this time of year
very different experience. When they wake up is all about? Open Mic Radio Network
Christmas morning, and are surrounded by Paranormal Blues
people who just may be strangers to them, Paranormal Court TV Show
ABOUT DR. JOHN DeGARMO: Dr. John
strangers who are laughing and having fun, it Parapsychology Today
DeGarmo has been a foster parent for 14 years,
can be a very difficult time for them, indeed. To Para Science Radio/TV
now, and he and his wife have had over 50
be sure, it is a day that is a stark reminder to RAM Media
children come through their home. He is the
these children that they are not with their own REL-MAR Publishing
director of The Foster Care Institute, a
family. It is during the holidays when families RNN Radio/TV
consultant to legal firms and foster care
are supposed to be together, yet these children in Sirius Digital Broadcast Network
agencies, as well as a speaker and trainer on
care are not. They are not with their families, many topics about the foster care system Dr. TalkStar Radio Network
and they may not know when they will see them DeGarmo and his wife were recently named a The Cup & Saucer Magazine
next. The Galactic Museum
Good Morning America Ultimate Hero. He is
More than likely, a foster child will have The ‘X’ Chronicles Newspaper
the author of several foster care books, including
feelings of sadness and grief, as he is separated The ‘X’ Zone Store
the The Foster Parenting Manual, and writes for
from his own family during this time of family The Ultimate Media Guide
several publications, including Foster Focus
celebration. After all, he is separated from his Too Politically Correct Radio Show
magazine. He can be contacted at
family during a time that is supposed to be WIFI Broadcast Network
drjohndegarmo@gmail, through his Facebook
centered AROUND family. Quite simply, they WIKI Broadcast Network
page, Dr. John DeGarmo, or at The Foster Care
want to go home, to live with their family Institute. WIKI Hamilton
members, despite the abuse and trauma they WIKI Publishing House
may have suffered from them, and despite all MERRY CHRISTMAS WTP Media
that you can and do offer and provide for him. XZBN Channel 365
Therefore, this time of holiday joy is especially AND XZBN Music Channel
difficult. XZBN News Channel
You can help these children. You can HAPPY NEW YEAR XZBN Travel
help a child in foster care have a truly Merry XZBN Network
Christmas; perhaps their very first Merry The ‘X’ Zone Channel
From All the Staff at -
Christmas. ‘X’ Zone Mystical Destinations
Sadly, far too many children in foster REL-MAR McConnell Media Company ‘X’ ZONE News
care have never had gifts to open on December ‘X’ Zone TV Channel
Angel Broadcast Network
25th. My wife and I try to make it a day that the
The Author Network
children both never forget, and one that they are REL-MAR McConnell Media Company
Beyond A Reasonable Doubt TV Show
able to escape their pain and suffering and Hamilton, Ontario
Canadian Broadcast Network
simply revel in being a child. Our “foster Canada
Canadian News Network
grandparents” help us accomplish this. Like our www.rel-mar.com
Canadian Media Services
dear friends have done, you, too, can reach out Digital Broadcast Network admin@rel-mar.com
to the foster parents in your community and Digital Satellite Network (905 575-1222
“adopt” a child during the holiday season, or (800) 610-7035