Let’s Fix The Broken

Ever since I was a child I always knew I was placed in this world to help people, rather it is volunteering at a homeless shelter or helping somebody cross the street. A few years ago I have became interested in the foster care system, and to my surprise it is completely broken. Foster homes are full, older children are in foster homes who are using a hard time getting adopted out because they are too old, foster parents aren't getting the support they need, children are being asked in foster care, and parents are not going through with the reunification process. These are just a few things that are currently wrong. I would like to be able to solve every issue out there to make the foster system a little better however I'm only one person. For 2022 I would like to create an app and website for foster care youth to be able to connect with other foster care peers, a place for them to be able to rant and get whatever they need off their chest, as well as being able to find resources they need such has finding an advocate for them, finding a replacement home if needed and therapists. Again this is just a few things we could offer on both the app and website. The reason being is because so many foster children feel as if they aren't heard and I think talking to peers is a great coping skill. As far as foster parents go I would like to create a section for them where they too connect with other foster parents for advice and resources that they may need to care for these children. I think if we can fix a tiny piece to the broken puzzle, the rest of the puzzle will begin to repair itself in the end, but only time will tell. Put yourself in a foster child’s positio, maybe they were abused or neglected at home, they get placed with a new family, and their biological family has no interest in getting them back, let’s say they are teenagesrs statistically they will have a harder time finding an adoptive home, and may even bounce around from home to home, this is even more true for Minority foster children. There is no stability in their life, but maybe they have a phone, or maybe the public library is only walking distance, the app and website will be there for them to utilize when they need it which also means they will have something in their life that is stable. This idea of mine is still in the works and I definitely have to figure out how exactly to make an app as well as a social media website, but I’m getting closer each day being able to launch it. Now you may be asking yourself at this point what I would want out of this, and my answer will always be “hope” “faith” and love” if I can make just one foster child’s life a little easier for one day, I have fulfilled my goal. Even though it is just me trying to figure this idea out, I think this will also be a start to a positive thing where others will stand up to help somebody in need, a domino effect of positivity if you will. If you are a foster parent or even a foster child reading this right now just know, I see you, I hear you, I am rooting for you and I promise you better days will come, I truly hope that each and every one of you see the rainbow at the end of the storm.