As a licensed foster care parent I have had the opportunity to look inside of some experiences of what life is like for a foster child. Many of us look from outside a window and we all know some amazing folks that are foster parents and we applaud them for the great work they are doing.
Foster care is not something we decide to do for the glory...or for the money. To be honest I have not yet had any placements in my home, but my family has. My sister and parents all currently have children in their home.
Due to some recent events with the current kids in our family's care, a particular aspect of foster care has not only caught my attention, but my heart. What happens to these young adults when they reach 18? We recently had an experience of someone who was not ready to go into the real world as an adult...and now they are facing the consequences. Are they still responsible for their actions? Yes. But this dear young adult has never been given the proper tools for healthy survival.
My sister and I were chatting about the need for a transitional place just for these young adults coming out of the foster care system. I started to think about what would be needed for these young adults. Housing, adult advisers, therapists, living skills, transitional classes and practices, etc. There are transitional housing facilities out there. I am not sure though if there are any that you can go to without getting in trouble first.
So I started doing some research and I found such a place...but in a different state. The more I continued to think about this need I started praying. The more I prayed, the more I began to think--what is stopping me from starting such a place? Then I started to feel a confirmation.
I'm not sure about this journey quite yet, but I don't ever recall previously being so sure and excited about something than I do about this ministry. I do kind of feel a little like Jeremiah in the Bible though. I know that the sucess stories will not be as previlant as those who would support such a ministry would like. Who knows if there will be any success stories. But I'm not pursuing this for the success stories...I'm doing it because I feel this is what God has been creating me to do.
The gifts, skills, passions, etc. that would be needed to research, plan, present, delegate, etc., He has been crafting these things in me!
So my first steps are to continue praying as well as asking others to join me in praying. Next, research--looking at similar ministries and learning from them. I know this will be a long-term goal and I know it will take time and patience. My goal is to have a place like this by the time my current foster nieces (4, 6, 7) will need a place like this. If it happens before that--great!
So join me in praying if you would--if you know of such a place in Illinois, please direct me towards that. I will continue to press on, grow, learn, and move forward as I feel directed by the Lord. I also need to come up with a name.
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