By mid-November the days are
shorter, the weather cooler, and the holidays are just around the corner. Home for the holidays is a common theme this
time of year. But, what if you were a
child or teenager in foster care without a permanent home and family? Suddenly
the holidays don’t seem so warm and inviting. Did you know that there are more
than 800 children available for adoption in Virginia’s foster care system? November is National Adoption Month.
Debbie Johnston, Founder and President of
Care Advantage, Inc., a home health care company, was recently named Virginia’s
Adoption Champion by Governor Terry McAuliffe and she is passionate about
helping children find families. Johnston was adopted by a loving Virginia
family at the age of 3 and she credits her success to the strong foundation
that her family provided.
“This
initiative is extremely close to my heart, and I will work tirelessly in my new
position as Adoption Champion to find homes for our Commonwealth’s exceptional
foster children,” said Johnston upon accepting her new role. As Virginia’s
Adoption Champion she hopes to be a voice for foster care children, work to
raise awareness about adoption, and help raise funds for programs that assist foster
children.
Johnston
is a current member of the Reynolds Community College Foundation Board that is devoted to securing private
resources to help support Reynolds and its students
One such
program, Great Expectations, is offered at Reynolds. Johnston
noted, “Great Expectations is such a great program! It really fills a need for the older kids in
foster care.” The Great Expectations Program works
with
youth, aged 17 to 24 who are or have been in foster care, to complete
high school, gain access to a community college education and transition
successfully from the foster care system to living independently. Without
social or family support, foster care children experience significant challenges
living on their own, but with access to education foster care youth can find
satisfying, well-paying jobs.
Sophia
Booker and her twin sister Bridgette entered foster care at the age of 7 after
being removed from an abusive home.
After living in multiple foster homes, the twins were adopted at the age
of 14 by their then foster mother. Sophia, currently a Great Expectations student
at Reynolds, credits her GE coach Dedra Hampton with keeping her on track in
pursuit of her education. She plans to transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University
next fall and pursue a degree in social work, and although she will be leaving
Reynolds and moving on to VCU, she knows that her Great Expectations coach will
continue to play a big role in her life.
Booker’s
long-term goal for her career is to give back and help other foster care youth
– particularly the older foster youth who need help with education and
independent living skills. In fact, she is already giving back - by working at Project
LIFE as its Youth Network Coordinator. Project LIFE (Living
Independently, Focusing on Empowerment) is a partnership with the Virginia
Department of Social Services and United Methodist Family Services whose
mission is to enhance the successful transition of older foster youth to
adulthood.
Let’s hope that by next year when
we approach the holiday season most of the 800 children waiting for a permanent
home in Virginia will truly be “home” for the holidays.
For more information on the Great Expectations Program at
Reynolds Community College please
For more information on
National Adoption Month please visit http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/november_is_national_adoption_month/.
