Road To Home with Rita Soronen

The foster care system provides an indispensable refuge for children who’ve been removed from unsafe homes, abusive parents and other unhealthy environments. But foster care isn’t meant to be a permanent place for these children. Unfortunately, for some people who could provide loving and supportive homes to deserving children, a number of common myths can make the prospect more intimidating than it should be.

Or, how to quit making excuses and do our job

I know you. You “like” things on the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Facebook page, you have looked at the FAQS on the webpage and you have had the pang in your heart. You have heard that little voice that seems to be calling you to adopt. Sometimes you hamper that voice, you busy yourself through the pang and tell yourself you are not enough for a child, you are too old for a child or do not have what you think a child is looking for. When I first met my parents I was 14-months old.

I’ve hijacked Rita Soronen’s column this month to do something she probably won’t enjoy. I’m going to say a whole bunch of really nice things about her and highlight some of her work.

You see, Rita is a lot like me. She doesn’t do this work because she likes the attention or needs to make herself feel good. She does it for the same reason I do it; we’re supposed to.

Some know, some don’t, Rita was one of the very first people I called when I started the magazine.

Not sure exactly how I got her direct line, but I did, and she was kind enough to let me chat her up.

I wasn’t ready to justify the magazine’s value to a group as large as the Dave Thomas Foundation on Adoption at that point in the game but a couple years later, I felt I was. I read that she was testifying before Congress, so I hopped in my car and made the trip south.

When I introduced myself after her testimony I thought for sure she would tell me she was late for a meeting, I should email her and off she would go. To my surprise, she remembered me, took some time to speak to me about the improvements the magazine had made and she promised she would do whatever it is she could do to help make the magazine a national success. I was floored.

Personal and professional experiences have taught us that you never outgrow the need for a family. At the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, we know that sentiment is especially true. Adult adoption, where a person is legally adopted after his or her eighteenth birthday, provides young adults aging out of the child welfare system the option to find their forever family long after emancipating from foster care.

I am joining the call to #makeithappen. As remarkable women around the world are recognized during International Women’s Day 2015, I can think of so many who have created, influenced, advocated and led, with passion, grace and focus and who have paved the way for each of us.  But, the one woman I must honor is Marian Wright Edelman.

For decades, Ms. Edelman has paved the way for women to become leaders, has advocated for the rights of disadvantaged Americans, and has dedicated her career to being a champion for children.

The moment when a parent first meets their child is unforgettable. For children in foster care, that moment cannot come soon enough. Too many of our children have been in care waiting for families for years. 

And they are not only living with the grief and loss of their family of origin, no matter what circumstances brought them into care, but also, if they are older, are trying to live in a system that may move them multiple times. Too often, they have simply given up on the notion of a forever family.

Editor’s Note: It’s a new calendar year, this means some shuffling and changing of columns is in order. Rita Soronen is one of the busiest executives in foster care, Foster Focus is lucky to have her as a Columnist. This month Rita is on the move and getting the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption set for another impactful year. I’m going to pinch hit for her this month and get you up to date on all the changes in store for Foster Focus this year.