Honestly, our 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath 1950s ranch is plenty big for our family. The truth is Kevin and I have been foster parents for the last 6 years. Our two birth children are 9 and 7 years old. We have also fostered 14 children over the years. They have ranged in age from 4 days to 18 years. We adopted our 2-1/2 year old son in 2005. We are hoping to do the same with our 9 month old daughter.

May is National Foster Care Month.

One of our goals is to educate families to the joy of foster care. Joy of foster care you ask - yes, it is a joy. I won’t lie, there are many hard times. Times going to and from the doctor, the hospital stays, phone calls from the principal, midnight feedings, monthly social worker visits and angry birth parent.

However, nothing is more rewarding than helping a child who is scared and uncertain about the future. I could tell you even more stories full of love and compassion:

One son dished out pancakes to all the children at the table and served himself last

Then he bought the whole block of kids ice cream with his first allowance

We watched proudly as his baseball team (the first baseball team he was ever on) won the championship, then feeling even more proud when he gave his birth mom the winning trophy

Then there was the joyful yell our 16 year old made after getting a guitar on her birthday and the priceless look on her face when she learned to play chords

And another daughter was able to perform with the chorus at her high school graduation and march with her classmates to get her Glenbard West diploma

There are the first steps, the first smiles and being called mama

But the best of all is the joy of going to Chicago and standing before the judge as he finalizes an adoption

People often ask “You can’t keep them all. How do you let them go? I couldn’t do that.” Well, it is very hard. Many tears have been shed over the years. My older children still mourn the loss of their brothers and sisters. However, we must look at it from this point of view.

These children are in our life for a reason. If our only purpose is to keep them safe and loved while they are with us, then that is what we must do.

There are currently 513,000 children in foster care. Could you open up your heart for one of them? If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, please feel free to contact me or the numerous websites available.

Foster Care: Change a Lifetime
Adopt Us Kids

Peace - Sherry

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Maid Marian,

I believe foster children are covered by the state.

From the fostercaremonth.org website:

quote:

How can I obtain health insurance for a child I am caring for? ^Top

All children who receive foster care payments from their states are automatically eligible for Medicaid.

If you are caring for a child, usually a relative, under another program, such as unlicensed kinship care, you may be able to enroll the child in your State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Visit the Insure Kids Now! website to find out about free or low-cost medical insurance in your state.

Additional information about health care for children may be available on your State Fact Sheet for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children, developed by The Children's Defense Fund, AARP, Casey Family Programs, The Brookdale Foundation, Child Welfare League of America, Generations United, The Urban Institute, and Johnson & Hedgpeth Consultants.

It looks like it depends on the program they are in. If a state program, then insurance via the state or medicaid. If something else, like Catholic Charities (who no longer does foster care in Chicago) then the insurance comes via that organization.

I know foster kids / orphans out at Mooseheart for example, receive medical aid via the International Moose.

Hey jombl,

Our kids have all been covered by the state - both dental and medical. Because I have a wonderful pediatrician, they have decided to take my foster kids and the state's insurance. Normally, they wouldn't. I have had a really hard time finding a dentist to take Medicaid. My teens have also had to go really far away to find an OB/GYN (Elgin). Otherwise, the state does a good job of trying to keep these kids healthy!

Hi Sherry: I Commend you and Kevin for doing what you are doing. My Aunt and Uncle always had foster kids, and it was not easy. I think they did most of their foster stuff through Catholic Charities. But all of us cousins had a great time with all of them. But, when they left, since most were teens, that was weird. But they did adopt one, my cousin Kay, she had alot of problems when she was an infant, but all worked out well. I know you from Churchill, but I do not use my real name on the Board.