America-The Movie!

Oh man was this a hard movie for me to watch. Very hard...and its how many years later. Today at work I delivered a baby boy to his new foster home. Once a child goes into care--the first home they go to is called the Receiving Home. They are to be there for 30 days--sometimes its more--sometimes less. We like to get the babies in the "permanent home" quick so they are able to bond,,,otherwise you end up with RAD--Reactive Detachment Disorder which is a tough nut to crack once a child ages. They just dont know how to bond...all you have to do is think about that and you can figure out what that means. No bond, no emotion.

Anyhow, I work in this field and I had no idea that we can expect only about 20% of these children to make it once they age out or return home to places that arent the best place for them to be. I was one of these children. How did I make it in the 20% of success? Why me? I dont know the answer to that--but i do know that I was in touch with my spriritual side all my life..perhaps that is why. But it killed me tonight to see this movie and relive this pain--and then know so many kids just dont have a fighting chance. So many of these children have been sexually abused, abused, lied to, neglected, left on streets. The anger inside of them--its like a growing cancer. This movie--will help you understand why kids act the way they do...and more importantly why they need someone to love them, be there for them, help them get the garbage out. They need someone to help them succeed, to not end their life as a victim. They've been victimized enough.

I see kids go into foster care all the time. Today--for some reason maybe it was because I actually delivered the baby and his 2 bags of worldly possessions...it tugged at my heart. I actually got into my car and cried as I watched the Foster Mom pull away. I do believe this baby will be well taken care of. In the Receiving home he was in--in just 30 days I've seen remarkable changes in this baby. I do love seeing that in our children. Its amazing how physically these kids change once in foster care. Where I live--we have some fantastic foster parents--and I've seen wonderful, loving, genuine care. Still, when this baby left today--I sat and wondered---what will his little life be like? Will he ever reunite with his birth Mom? Will he end up with RAD? Will he be ok? Will someone be there to ensure his life is a successful one--I probably wont be working in this field when he is older to see if he is a victim of this or a successer.

If you havent had the chance to see this movie--make it a point to see it. Take the time to see how so many of America's children are living. If your able--open your heart and home to them. And if not--that is ok to--but add these kids to your prayer chains. They need it,,,I know because I was one of them. I made it--and its sad that so many dont. I think tomorrow--and hopefully for the rest of my working days in this job--I will look at this differently. I have to, I need to see some of them be able to do what I did--toss the demons aside and move forward.

Rosie O"donnel did a fantastic job with this as well as the boy who portrayed America. What an inspirational and eye opening movie.

I came back to add this.....America's children need our help. This is what i see in my county.

If you cant shelter a child,,,,pray for them!
If you have extra money here and there and want to KNOW it will go to good use and not partly good use--partly administrative costs...then contact your local Human Services Agency where they provide Foster Care and offer them some Gift Cards for Teens. Cards that we need all the time are---Hair Cuts, Gift Cards for Walmart so we can provide basic needs such as personal care products, underclothing, socks, etc. So many of our children come into care with nothing. And I mean nothing. Last week we placed a set of twins that came into care with the clothes on their back. Can you imagine the foster parents having to run out and provide clothing for twins? The county does help--but again our funds are limited due to this horrific economy.

Please if any of you can provide try to make this something maybe you do once a month--a commitment to a haircut or Personal Gift Card for a child. It truly does make our job easier and also the life of the child. I remember when I went into foster care at 15, I was one of those children whose parents would not allow me to take my things--so I went into care with the clothes on my back. I remember the first thing my Case Worker had to do was take me to JC Penny to buy underclothes. It meant the world to me to have clean, items that I needed.