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November 5, 2008Jacqueline Wilson, MSW/LSW CEO Three Rivers Adoption Council NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH THREE RIVERS ADOPTION COUNCIL CEO JACQUELINE WILSON IS RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT ADOPTION AND SHE IS DEDICATED TO FINDING HOMES FOR CHILDREN ...
November is National Adoption Month, a month set aside to raise awareness about the adoption of children and youth from foster care.
Beckham Media finds out from Jacqueline Wilson, MSW/LSW CEO of Three Rivers Adoption Council how her agency located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is successfully finding homes for children. Wilson also shares in a question and answer session (see below) why her organization is considered to be the trailblazer in adoption nationally. Wilson has devoted her career working in foster care. In 2005, she received the Angels in Adoption award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, joining the ranks of award winners Patti Labelle, Mohammed Ali, and Bruce Willis. Wilson serves on the national boards of Voice for Adoption, which monitors federal legislation that impacts children and youth in the child welfare system, and Adoption Exchange Association, which works with adoption organizations, exchanges and professionals throughout the country. Robin Beckham Adopts Isaiah Beckham July 2008 Beckham Media: When it comes to adoption, what is the bottom line to all the statistics? What does the number mean to you? Any real specific trend you are concerned about? J. Wilson: While families continue to come forward to adopt children, the number of children needing permanent families continues to remain fairly constant. While counties are doing an excellent job moving children through the system, far too many remain. These are primarily older children for whom finding families is more difficult. What concerns me most is the older children who continue to remain in foster care too long. Approximate 1,000 children turn 18 (in Pennsylvania) and age out of the system (are released to themselves). It is hard for any of us to fathom that many 18 year olds are mature enough to be successful on their own. Statistics tell us that these children are far more likely to:
Statistics also tell us that each time a child is moved (from one foster home to another) they miss 6 months of education. A lot of this is based on the fact that they spend a great deal of their day worried about where they are going to be next. Learning math and reading is not real important if they feel they are unstable in their living situation.
Beckham Media: What do you like most about your job? How do you stay positive as you stay the course to find homes for children? J. Wilson: I truly love everything about my job. Creating families is an awesome responsibility and one that is not taken lightly. As you know – the excitement and commitment that families have once matched and placed with their child is a feeling that can’t be equaled. It is very easy to stay positive when you are working with families who have as their main desire, to assist a child by providing them a loving, nurturing family and giving them the opportunities to have a successful life. I am also blessed to be surrounded by a staff that is 100% committed to assisting our families and providing opportunities for them to share their experiences and to teach them new skills that will assist them in maintaining their new family unit. We understand that adopting is not an easy decision to make. It is one that is made with a lot of thought – Once individuals have made the decision; it is our goal and responsibility to make sure they have as smooth a process as possible. Beckham Media: Why should families consider adopting? J. Wilson: The lives of our children are at stake!! Each family that comes forward to adopt has a hand in the future of a child and therefore the future of our society. With most of the children waiting for permanent families being over the age of 8, it is crucial that families come forward to give these children a chance. They deserve the opportunity to ‘just be kids”. Many people are afraid to adopt older children because they ‘can’t mold them’. However, the reality is – we don’t mold our own children. We guide them and give them the best direction we can so they will be able to make good decisions later on. When we think about the special times in our lives:
Is there any way we could consider that there is a child who doesn’t deserve this same thing. Our kids are in the system due to no fault of their own. Yes, they are angry – but it is important to understand that their anger is rooted in their hurt over what has happened to them. As we prepare to gather with our families for Thanksgiving – we should stop and think where are the older kids that are in group homes going to spend the holiday? Who will be providing them gifts at Christmas? While many gracious people come forward to provide gifts for our children – wouldn’t it be much more meaningful to receive a gift from someone you know? Someone who loves you? To be able to open your gifts on the living room floor in your pj’s? We can’t continue to complain about our children, if we are not willing to step up to offer them what they need – a family!! If people are not willing to commit to adopting a child – PLEASE come forward to foster a child! While our children receive good care in their group homes – it can not be compared to the feeling of being around family. Beckham Media: What are your challenges with adoption and foster care? J. Wilson: We have two major challenges, including the following:.
Beckham Media: What is your agency doing right? J. Wilson: I think there are a lot of things we are doing right. TRAC prides itself in making sure we assess the needs of our families and kids and makes every effort to adjust our programming to positively meet those needs. Also, TRAC is one of very few agencies that has actual therapist on staff who are trained to help our families through the healing process, providing them with new tools to ensure their success, On a lighter note, the extra activities we have for our families and children (I believe) are second to none. The family picnic we held this spring for our families was fantastic! We also have respite retreats where families go away for the weekend to participate in fun activities that help them to strengthen their relationships, make new connections with other families and find the support they need to endure.
ABOUT THREE RIVERS ADOPTION COUNCIL Three Rivers Adoption Council has served as Pennsylvania’s foremost resource for adoption information, referral services, support, and education. We are continually expanding and now offer services to families in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. As we grow, we will continue to spread our mission of improving adoption opportunities for children awaiting permanency throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Our Mission... To create and provide adoption opportunities and a range of services for all children growing up without permanent, caring families Our Vision... By 2011, TRAC is viewed statewide as the highest quality provider of innovative family-focused adoption services with an emphasis on African-American and special needs children as measured by our key stakeholders: children & families, employees, funders, member & peer agencies, and all levels of government
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