This year, 104,000 children are
in need of a very special Christmas gift; the gift of a home. The U.S. foster
care system in Plattsburgh is looking for people to give this gift this season.
Prospective
adoptive families don't have to have a lot of money or own their home. Parents
can be married or single. A prospective adoptive family must demonstrate that
they can provide a permanent home for a child or a sibling group, and they can
provide a safe environment and support the child’s physical health, mental
health, and educational and social needs. Could you be the perfect parent to
one of them?
Breanna Miller, a
senior at SUNY Plattsburgh with a 4.0 GPA in the hospitality, tourism and
restaurant management program, was in foster care until the age of 5, when she
was adopted by Jamie and Brian Miller. Breanna was only placed in two other
homes before she met Jamie and Brian. During Breanna’s time with them, her
birth parent’s parental rights were terminated and she was eligible for
adoption. After spending over a year with her, Jamie and Brian knew they wanted
to make her a permanent member of the Miller family.
“It was a lot of
paperwork and course work to ensure we knew what we were signing up for; it was
certainly worth it,” said Jamie. Brian explained the process took 15 months
between the orientation, preparation classes and home study requirements but
was easier because Breanna was already in their home as a foster child, making
the transition smoother.
Martine Lamar, a
retired police officer, explained that transitions from home to home are
usually not as smooth when there are serious custody issues or the child has
experienced abuse from their original home. “I can not tell you how many times
I was called to locate a missing child who was in foster care and ran away from
home. It is very disheartening, they need some place they feel safe and
welcome,” said Lamar. Foster care and adoption are not for everyone, said Lamar,
which is why it is crucial for people to undergo the orientation and classes to
fully understand what it is like to bring another person into their family.
If the experience
is poor for the child, the behaviors at home will carry over into their school
day.
Chelsea Strong, a
childhood education major at SUNY Plattsburgh, has experienced this first hand.
While she has worked in a handful of the local schools, she has noticed which
children have been struggling academically and socially because of tension at
home. “We do everything we can for them while at school so they can feel accepted
and safe. We are aware of the students who are in foster care or are in the
process of being adopted and we do our best to make the transition smooth for
them in the classroom,” said Strong.
“I was so lucky to
have a smooth transition from foster care to being adopted,” said Breanna, “you
don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.” Jamie and Brian helped Breanna
get involved in basketball and lacrosse at a young age and would help her with
homework after family dinners. The Miller family visited Plattsburgh and
Breanna has been excelling since she arrived. Brian said, “We are very proud of
everything Brea has accomplished; we are proud to call her our daughter.”
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