Day #116: Give with HOPE in Hayes, VA

Today, the four of us interviewed the executive director at HOPE (Helping Other People's Enrichment). The girls colored at the table while Stephanie and I asked questions and listened.

There are roughly 6,000 children in the State of Virginia in the foster care system. HOPE is one of the private non-profits that helps match those children with foster parents. They work specifically with emotionally disturbed children.

Here is a summary of what we learned today.

• There are tons of children all over our country without families.
• Kids who grow up in the foster system are at extremely high risk to never graduate from high school and/or to eventually end up being incarcerated as adults.
• Foster parents are paid to care for foster children. The rate is determined by each child's specific needs.
• Most foster parents do not have a college degrees.

We left feeling thankful for the staff at HOPE and their commitment to children, but we also had heavy hearts. On the way home, we noted that we could only think of a handful of families with foster kids.

We know lots of outstanding people with caring hearts. Many of them have advanced degrees and successful careers. They have what it takes to help save a child from being another statistic. Why don't any of them foster, we questioned? Then we asked ourselves if we should be foster parents.

Have you ever been a foster parent? Do you know any adults who were foster kids?