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Kimberly McKay
Candidate for
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Foster Care ReformAs a former foster care provider and a worker in a County hospital many years ago in California, I have seen a lot of things that are quite frankly scary to me. The fact that these childrens' rights and well being are not always put first. I hear the words "family preservation" and I have to ask is that in the best interest of these children or are we as a society leaving these children to fend for themselves and to grow up thinking that they are not worth anything and destined to follow in the same footprints of there parents? I am in no way saying that parents don't have rights but I am questioning whether these rights overshadow the rights of the child. Children in my opinion are very precious and need to be protected. They are our legacy in a lot of ways and that is what we need to think about. Are we going to turn this world over to the next generation better than the way we received it from our forefathers or are we going to turn it over in worse condition because of our refusal to act because we don't want to cause trouble? Personally I think we owe it to them to cause trouble and be heard, make changes for the betterment of the world we live in.Some may ask why I am no longer a foster parent and the reason is simple and yet complicated at the same time. The idea of sending children back into the same environment as what they were taken out of time and time again. Dealing with the nightmares, and the fear in their eyes, trying to overcome there past and give them the love and attention they need so much. Then just as you feel you have accomplished something positive in their life, they can be pulled out and put back into the same place they were taken from originally. This breaks my heart to see and so I decided not to do it any more. However I have to say my hat is off to those who do foster care as you are an important part in these children's lives and my respect and admiration goes out to you. |
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