For many children, Christmas is the most magical time of the year. Many of us fondly recall our childhood being filled with hope and wonder at what the Christmas season was sure to bring; the sights, sounds and smells can never be forgotten. Who remembers the excitement of tiptoeing through the house to sneak a peek at the tree early Christmas morning to see if Santa had come? Did Santa know you had tried your hardest to be good all year? Would he bring that shiny red bicycle you had been wishing for? Or a new doll?
Now imagine you’re six years old and when you open your eyes Christmas morning it takes just a minute for you to remember you aren’t at home. Your mom and dad aren’t right down the hallway. In fact, you’re not sure when you’ll see your parents again. You’re not even sure where you’ll live next month. This year you aren’t wishing for a doll or a bicycle. Your only wish is to be with your family again.
“Being a foster child at Christmas time is extremely difficult, especially for those children old enough to have memories of Christmas with their families,” shares Beth Booker, Foster Care Supervisor at Greene County Children and Youth Services. “For some kids it is hard because they may not get to see their parents for Christmas. On the other hand, some kids may have the chance to experience a Christmas like they never have before.”
Greene County Foster Care has the support of many wonderful businesses and people in the county who go above and beyond to provide foster children with presents through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. The program provides Christmas assistance to families in need; each child in foster care is allowed three wishes. These wishes are displayed on wish cards, along with the child’s code name. These wish cards are distributed to various businesses throughout the count, where they are displayed. Patrons and employees of these business choose a child and fulfill the wishes listed on the card. The foster care agency then ensures the purchased gifts are distributed to the foster homes before Christmas morning. Along with their wishes, the agency also provides the child’s clothing and shoe size.
If it is possible for the children to have a visit with their parents on Christmas, the agency does its best to make that happen. “We do have some amazing foster parents who help set these visits up,” says Beth. “If it isn’t possible for them to see their families in person on Christmas, then they Facetime or have phone calls.”
This year the foster care Christmas party will be held on Sunday, December 13. Due to COVID restrictions, the format of the party has been modified. Ron Lewis Automotive in Waynesburg has graciously offered for the agency to use their drive-thru bay at their dealership. The foster families will have the opportunity to drive through and see Santa, grab some food to go, and pick up some extra treats – all from the safety of their car!
Greene County Foster Care also works closely with Loved Again Charities to ensure foster kids in Greene County don’t go without any necessities during the year. Loved Again Charities provides ‘duffle bags of love,’ filling duffle bags with personal care items, toys, books, and clothes for children in the foster care system. Donations can be made directly to the Greene County Foster Care agency or Loved Again Charities. Items accepted include clothing, shoes, coats, toiletries, diapers, baby food, formula, and monetary donations. Loved Again Charities is located at 79 South Morgan Street in Waynesburg or on Facebook @lovedagaincharities.
Beth Booker has worked for Greene County Children and Youth Service for three and a half years, starting as a caseworker and then promoting to Casework Supervisor. In May, she transitioned to supervising the foster care unit. “Having worked as a caseworker and experiencing first-hand what it is like to remove kids from their home and place them in a foster home, I have witnessed what a traumatic experience it is for the children. These children are removed from their home for a variety of reasons; enduring deplorable housing, parental drug use, physical abuse, sexual abuse, medical neglect, the list goes on,” says Beth. “Due to a foster home shortage, sometimes we are required to drive the children out of Greene County, occasionally over an hour away to the nearest foster family. This process only heightens the child’s anxiety. When they are able to stay in a foster home within their community, it helps them handle the transition better since they then have the opportunity to stay in the same school and keep some of those hometown connections.”
Currently, the Greene County Foster system has nine certified foster homes, six of them being in Greene County, with approximately 65 children in care with ages ranging from newborn to 17 years old. Greene County Children and Youth Service’s goal is to try and safely return the children back to the care of their parents or an appropriate family member. The agency works two goals concurrently, with reunification being the primary goal and adoption being the subsequent goal. Once a child has been in foster care for 15 months and there has not been any progress towards reunification, the agency will start looking at terminating parental rights. Approximately 25% of the kids who come into care move on to the adoption process.
There are far too many children within the foster care system without the hope of reunification with their birth parents, adoption, or a future filled with stability. Please consider, not only during the Christmas season but all year, how you can get involved in making a difference in the life of a foster child.
Monetary donations are always welcome. These donations can be used to purchase diapers, wipes, formula or can be used to allow foster children to participate in extracurricular activities. If you would like more information on becoming a foster parent or would like to provide assistance for the Angel Tree Program contact Greene County Foster Care at 724-852-5217 or visit GCFosterCare.com.