<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
		>
<channel>
	<title>Comments on: Foster Care Statistics Poll Commissioned by CASA</title>
	<atom:link href="http://fostercareinamerica.com/2009/08/13/fostercare-statistics-poll-commissioned-by-casa/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://fostercareinamerica.com/2009/08/13/fostercare-statistics-poll-commissioned-by-casa/</link>
	<description>Inspiration and information from graduates of the system</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:18:06 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1</generator>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
		<item>
		<title>By: Jennifer</title>
		<link>http://fostercareinamerica.com/2009/08/13/fostercare-statistics-poll-commissioned-by-casa/comment-page-1/#comment-1335</link>
		<dc:creator>Jennifer</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:31:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fostercareinamerica.com/?p=974#comment-1335</guid>
		<description>Brianna,

Thank you for sharing your story and your strength with us.  I believe that each of us has a destiny and sometimes our path begins with more difficulties to help prepare us for this journey.  Children are our most precious asset and so it is out of my realm of understanding how so many of them end up fighting a burden that they had no responsibility to carry.  There are those moments when I am reading about the courage of so many former foster alumns that I think to myself; &quot;I wonder if they have any idea how truly remarkable they are?&quot;  I mention this thought for you because you are one of them!  Good for you Brianna!

Continue to be the very best that you are, I know you will achieve many great things in your life and look forward to hearing about them so please keep in touch.

My Very Best Wishes,
Jennifer
Executive Director
www.fostercareinamerica.com</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Brianna,</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing your story and your strength with us.  I believe that each of us has a destiny and sometimes our path begins with more difficulties to help prepare us for this journey.  Children are our most precious asset and so it is out of my realm of understanding how so many of them end up fighting a burden that they had no responsibility to carry.  There are those moments when I am reading about the courage of so many former foster alumns that I think to myself; &#8220;I wonder if they have any idea how truly remarkable they are?&#8221;  I mention this thought for you because you are one of them!  Good for you Brianna!</p>
<p>Continue to be the very best that you are, I know you will achieve many great things in your life and look forward to hearing about them so please keep in touch.</p>
<p>My Very Best Wishes,<br />
Jennifer<br />
Executive Director<br />
<a href="http://www.fostercareinamerica.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.fostercareinamerica.com</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Brianna Baucum</title>
		<link>http://fostercareinamerica.com/2009/08/13/fostercare-statistics-poll-commissioned-by-casa/comment-page-1/#comment-1330</link>
		<dc:creator>Brianna Baucum</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:08:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fostercareinamerica.com/?p=974#comment-1330</guid>
		<description>My name is Brianna Baucum. I am 19 years old and aged out of Foster Care on June 1, 2009. I remember the weeks before I aged out i was like I am so excited im about to be grown. Cant no one tell me what to do at 18. I look back and thank God I didnt get put on the street at 18, I thank God I didnt burn all my bridges because I thought i was grown. However 
What do you do when... You still Cant drive and its a phobia to cross the street due to being shelterd and used to the system and its tactics? What do you when you are in Walmart because Your afraid you are going to get left by your friends just as you did when you were dropped off at the DFPS office?

What do you do when Holidays approach and you are in the dormitory and you have no place to call home and when you do you have no good memories to remanace about because in reality you are just a Guest?

What do you do when your benefits run out. Better yet what do you do when you are on the straight and narrow and you feel you dont need them anymore however you seem to be losing out on the relationships within the benefits?
What do you do when your sick? Who do you call. 
What do you do when things run low? who do you call...
What do you do when you want to talk and due to confidentiality you cant talk to your staff that said they were there...?
What do you do when the state labels you from jump street, and you fight and try to go against the odds.. and you fall that one last time... that time where your chances have run out. The time when you are actually Grown and Foster Care is the past! And foster care is no longer your crutch, your support, but now your inspiration and stumbling block. 
You thank Whatever higher power or source you think Got you there. Because I am a living witness, and testimony that through all the brigdges i have burned there is atleast one i have crossed two i have rebulit and a lifetime that i have yet to tread... I am thankful..
Brianna Baucum Foster Youth/ Alumni Psychology and Social work Major/ Advocate for Foster Youth</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My name is Brianna Baucum. I am 19 years old and aged out of Foster Care on June 1, 2009. I remember the weeks before I aged out i was like I am so excited im about to be grown. Cant no one tell me what to do at 18. I look back and thank God I didnt get put on the street at 18, I thank God I didnt burn all my bridges because I thought i was grown. However<br />
What do you do when&#8230; You still Cant drive and its a phobia to cross the street due to being shelterd and used to the system and its tactics? What do you when you are in Walmart because Your afraid you are going to get left by your friends just as you did when you were dropped off at the DFPS office?</p>
<p>What do you do when Holidays approach and you are in the dormitory and you have no place to call home and when you do you have no good memories to remanace about because in reality you are just a Guest?</p>
<p>What do you do when your benefits run out. Better yet what do you do when you are on the straight and narrow and you feel you dont need them anymore however you seem to be losing out on the relationships within the benefits?<br />
What do you do when your sick? Who do you call.<br />
What do you do when things run low? who do you call&#8230;<br />
What do you do when you want to talk and due to confidentiality you cant talk to your staff that said they were there&#8230;?<br />
What do you do when the state labels you from jump street, and you fight and try to go against the odds.. and you fall that one last time&#8230; that time where your chances have run out. The time when you are actually Grown and Foster Care is the past! And foster care is no longer your crutch, your support, but now your inspiration and stumbling block.<br />
You thank Whatever higher power or source you think Got you there. Because I am a living witness, and testimony that through all the brigdges i have burned there is atleast one i have crossed two i have rebulit and a lifetime that i have yet to tread&#8230; I am thankful..<br />
Brianna Baucum Foster Youth/ Alumni Psychology and Social work Major/ Advocate for Foster Youth</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: sonisha robinson</title>
		<link>http://fostercareinamerica.com/2009/08/13/fostercare-statistics-poll-commissioned-by-casa/comment-page-1/#comment-865</link>
		<dc:creator>sonisha robinson</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:27:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fostercareinamerica.com/?p=974#comment-865</guid>
		<description>i feel that being a foster child myself, that children are not being taken care as good as they should. The government has little if any regulations on being a foster parent. there are few background checks and visits to the home</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>i feel that being a foster child myself, that children are not being taken care as good as they should. The government has little if any regulations on being a foster parent. there are few background checks and visits to the home</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: C.J. MacKechnie</title>
		<link>http://fostercareinamerica.com/2009/08/13/fostercare-statistics-poll-commissioned-by-casa/comment-page-1/#comment-202</link>
		<dc:creator>C.J. MacKechnie</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:20:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fostercareinamerica.com/?p=974#comment-202</guid>
		<description>good website.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>good website.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
</channel>
</rss>
