Foster Care: Making a Difference, One Child at a Time
Foster Care: Making a Difference, One Child at a Time Darla Current always knew she wanted to be a mom. She and husband Ben have three biological children – Lilia (11), Paisley (9) and Chandler (3). Not planning on having more biological children, the Currents kept hearing about foster care and adoption. One day, Darla heard a radio ad for foster care. She and Ben decided it was finally time to move forward and become a licensed foster home.
For more information on foster care and adoption, call 1-888-KIDHERO At first, the family took only respite placements. Respite usually refers to short-term, limited duration foster care. Shortly thereafter, the family learned of two little girls who needed a longer-term foster care placement – Avery and Arielle, sisters aged 4 and 5 (names have been changed.) Darla recalls that her first impression of the girls was that they were shy, but “I could tell they were really sweet and would fit in really well” with the Current family. The Current kids: Lilia, Paisley and Chandler, along with foster sisters Avery and Arielle
Within 6 weeks, tragedy had struck. Avery and Arielle’s birth father passed away suddenly. Darla and Ben helped the girls to celebrate their father’s life even as they mourned his passing. The family still keeps a framed photo of the girls’ father in the home.
As for working with the Department of Children and Families, the Currents have enjoyed a positive relationship with social worker Colleen Donahue, Avery and Arielle’s caseworker. Darla comments that Colleen has been helpful, and “has given us a lot of her time.” Foster parents licensed in CT also have their own support social worker, whose job is to offer practical and emotional support to the family, make service referrals, remind families of relevant trainings, and ensure that the home meets DCF regulations, among other things. The Currents feel that the foster parent training classes (which are the same as those for prospective adoptive parents) were helpful, but of course it is one thing to understand a concept in the class and another entirely to live it out. “You really have to know your limits, what you can do in a day,” Darla advises. The family has had to learn to advocate for their own needs and the needs of the children in their care, as well as learning to navigate the DCF system. In terms of welcoming Avery and Arielle into their home, the family had scheduled a playdate with the other foster family ahead of time to meet the girls. They were able to let the girls help decide what to have for dinner their first night in their new home. Giving children in foster care small choices can help to empower children who may have felt powerless in the past. Foster Care and Adoption Informational Open House Schedule Tuesday, 5/2 @5pm, DCF, 322 Main Street 3rd floor, Willimantic Thursday, 5/4 @6:30pm, Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Rd., Groton Saturday, 5/6 @2pm, Sweet Harmony Bakery, 330 Main St., Middletown Tuesday, 5/16 @5pm, Thompson Library, 934 Riverside Dr., No. Grosvenordale Wednesday, 5/17 @6:30pm, Griswold Town Hall, 28 Main St., Griswold Wednesday, 5/24 @6:30pm, Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Rd., Waterford Tuesday, 5/30 @5pm, Putnam Library, 225 Kennedy Dr., Putnam For more information including additional Open House days and locations, call 1-888-KIDHERO or visit www.ctfosteradopt.com
A family with love to give: Darla, Ben, Lilia, Paisley and Chandler Current
The family is still dealing with many unknowns. Darla was recently diagnosed with leukemia, which meant that Avery and Arielle needed to move to another foster home. While Darla’s overall prognosis is good, the health issues disrupted a placement that the family was hoping would result in adoption, if family reunification was not going to be possible. Hundreds of children in CT need safe, loving foster homes – kids in foster care need someone who can provide structure, consistency and love, model healthy behaviors, help a child build self-esteem, and remain flexible to accommodate many appointments and meetings that help a child to reach his or her full potential. Like the Current family, if you have ever thought about providing foster care, if you have love to give and space in your home and life, call 1-888-KIDHERO to learn more today.
For more information on foster care and adoption, call 1-888-KIDHERO At first, the family took only respite placements. Respite usually refers to short-term, limited duration foster care. Shortly thereafter, the family learned of two little girls who needed a longer-term foster care placement – Avery and Arielle, sisters aged 4 and 5 (names have been changed.) Darla recalls that her first impression of the girls was that they were shy, but “I could tell they were really sweet and would fit in really well” with the Current family. The Current kids: Lilia, Paisley and Chandler, along with foster sisters Avery and Arielle
Within 6 weeks, tragedy had struck. Avery and Arielle’s birth father passed away suddenly. Darla and Ben helped the girls to celebrate their father’s life even as they mourned his passing. The family still keeps a framed photo of the girls’ father in the home.
As for working with the Department of Children and Families, the Currents have enjoyed a positive relationship with social worker Colleen Donahue, Avery and Arielle’s caseworker. Darla comments that Colleen has been helpful, and “has given us a lot of her time.” Foster parents licensed in CT also have their own support social worker, whose job is to offer practical and emotional support to the family, make service referrals, remind families of relevant trainings, and ensure that the home meets DCF regulations, among other things. The Currents feel that the foster parent training classes (which are the same as those for prospective adoptive parents) were helpful, but of course it is one thing to understand a concept in the class and another entirely to live it out. “You really have to know your limits, what you can do in a day,” Darla advises. The family has had to learn to advocate for their own needs and the needs of the children in their care, as well as learning to navigate the DCF system. In terms of welcoming Avery and Arielle into their home, the family had scheduled a playdate with the other foster family ahead of time to meet the girls. They were able to let the girls help decide what to have for dinner their first night in their new home. Giving children in foster care small choices can help to empower children who may have felt powerless in the past. Foster Care and Adoption Informational Open House Schedule Tuesday, 5/2 @5pm, DCF, 322 Main Street 3rd floor, Willimantic Thursday, 5/4 @6:30pm, Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Rd., Groton Saturday, 5/6 @2pm, Sweet Harmony Bakery, 330 Main St., Middletown Tuesday, 5/16 @5pm, Thompson Library, 934 Riverside Dr., No. Grosvenordale Wednesday, 5/17 @6:30pm, Griswold Town Hall, 28 Main St., Griswold Wednesday, 5/24 @6:30pm, Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Rd., Waterford Tuesday, 5/30 @5pm, Putnam Library, 225 Kennedy Dr., Putnam For more information including additional Open House days and locations, call 1-888-KIDHERO or visit www.ctfosteradopt.com
A family with love to give: Darla, Ben, Lilia, Paisley and Chandler Current
The family is still dealing with many unknowns. Darla was recently diagnosed with leukemia, which meant that Avery and Arielle needed to move to another foster home. While Darla’s overall prognosis is good, the health issues disrupted a placement that the family was hoping would result in adoption, if family reunification was not going to be possible. Hundreds of children in CT need safe, loving foster homes – kids in foster care need someone who can provide structure, consistency and love, model healthy behaviors, help a child build self-esteem, and remain flexible to accommodate many appointments and meetings that help a child to reach his or her full potential. Like the Current family, if you have ever thought about providing foster care, if you have love to give and space in your home and life, call 1-888-KIDHERO to learn more today.
