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SUITCASES EASE MOVES
Fredericksburg attorney seeks donated luggage for foster children who often have to move
Date published: 3/9/2010
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE Foster children tend to travel light and often. Some stay at a foster home for a week or less. Some will live in as many as 20 homes over their time in foster care. And often, when it's time to move, the children throw all their possessions in a plastic trash bag and head for the next place. A Fredericksburg lawyer hopes to change that, by providing suitcases to local departments of social services. Thomas Savage, a family law attorney, has worked as a guardian ad litem for about 15 years. As a lawyer appointed to represent abused and neglected children, Savage has worked with many area foster children. Sometimes, they would mention carting their belongings in trash bags. Savage hated the thought of foster kids toting plastic bags filled with their clothes and other possessions. But he didn't stop to think about it too much. Then, last year, he attended a local seminar on best practices for foster children. Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge David Peterson mentioned the kids' carrying trash bags. "In America today, I just found it extremely sad that someone would have all of their worldly belongings put in a trash bag," Savage said. "Many of these children have been abused or neglected. They've had a hard enough life without their life relegated to a trash bag." He can't erase the abuse and neglect, but Savage was determined to help in the short run. He called the directors of local departments of social services and asked if he could collect suitcases for foster children. In the past, similar efforts helped, he learned. But they were always hampered by limited storage space. So Savage contacted Falmouth Self Storage. The company donated a storage unit, and Savage has started collecting suitcases and other items--combs, brushes and toiletries. He hopes to get new or gently used suitcases--the kind of luggage a foster child would be proud to carry. When luggage arrives, Savage e-mails local foster care workers, so they know what's available. Suitcases may not seem like much, but they will make a big difference, said Beth Girone, foster care supervisor for the Fredericksburg Department of Social Services. Trash bags stand out and send the message that the kids' belongings are not significant. "Being able to fit in and not stand out is important," Girone said. "Each time a child comes into care or when a child is moved, we'll definitely be taking advantage of these suitcases." Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Date published: 3/9/2010
Thank you Mr. Savage for
(posted by
confuzed
, Mar. 9, 2010 10:14 pm)
trying to look out for the children in the foster care system.
They most certainly need all the help they can get and I
applaud your efforts.
foster parent here...
(posted by
AnaMatopoeia
, Mar. 9, 2010 6:34 pm)
and i'm shocked that there are kids out in the system that
actually have stuff to carry around. we're had 7 diffferent
kids now and only ONE of them came with anything of their
own, other than what was on their back. they had some
"stuff" that social services was able to throw together for
them at the office, but nothing that was "theirs," and
certainly nothing to cart around. i'm happy, though, that
someone is doing this and that some of the system kids DO
have their own things!!!!
Screening fp's
(posted by
riley6
, Mar. 9, 2010 11:54 am)
For the most part, foster parents are well screened. They go through back ground checks, finger prints, and extensive personal and job references. Some may fall through the cracks, but most are committed, loving people. In VA, the average fp gets $400 a month per child. That's a little over $10 a day. NOT a lot to raise a child! People can't imagine how much time off from work a fp takes to go to IEP meetings, visitations, doctor appointments, etc. Being a fp is NOT easy! Do it if you think it is.
Don't institutionalize them!
(posted by
riley6
, Mar. 9, 2010 11:51 am)
Above all else, the kids in foster care are KIDS! They should not be institutionalized! Kids grow up best in families...not orphanages! The best thing we can do for kids in foster care is to make DSS accountable for their actions! Kids are being moved around because their foster parents aren't given the support they need to deal with the complex issues some kids have. Instead of supporting the fp's, the kids are moved. Unfortunately, the issues follow the kids!
foster kids
(posted by
bucks
, Mar. 9, 2010 11:40 am)
Wouldn't it be better to have these kids housed in a center with teachers and counselors. We spend money on everything else, how about these homeless kids.This archaic way of foster care should be outlawed. Most I have spoken to have been through a lot including abuse. Maybe our politicians could work on this black eye.
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