http://bakids.org In the San Francisco Bay Area, adoptive and foster homes are needed for thousands of children. Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:51:19 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en By: Amy Hadley It's hard enough trying to figure yourself out when you're a teenager, much less wondering if you'll ever belong to a family. Fifteen-year-old Jonathan is easy-going and focused on settling in as best he can. As an eighth grader, Jonathan is trying really hard to just live a ... http://bakids.org/2007/02/20/15-year-old-not-too-old-for-a-forever-family/ THE AVERAGE parent in California doesn't expect his or her child to achieve full adulthood -- in the form of complete self-sufficiency -- at the age of 18. In fact, it's not until the age of 26 that this average child is able to get by without leaning on mom ... http://bakids.org/2007/01/31/a-transition-into-adulthood/ Abandonment at age 18 causes huge problems, group says by Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer Wednesday, January 17, 2007 Sacramento -- The state of California neglects foster care children once they turn 18, turning them out onto the street with nowhere to live, no way to support themselves and nobody to turn to ... http://bakids.org/2007/01/31/aid-urged-for-older-foster-kids/ By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer Saturday, January 6, 2007 After tripling over the past 15 years, the number of foreign children adopted by Americans dropped sharply in 2006, the result of multiple factors which have jolted adoption advocates and prompted many would-be adoptive parents to reconsider their options. The consequences ... http://bakids.org/2007/01/31/foreign-adoptions-in-us-drop-in-2006/ Adapted from: Select Committee on Foster Care: May 12, 2006 Public Hearing on Foster CareRebecca Cohen: Let me properly introduce Danielle Thompson, who is 20 years old. I think I met you when you were 19. Happy birthday. She is a former foster youth who lived in ... http://bakids.org/2006/09/24/129/ Danielle Thompson tells her story: Adapted from: Select Committee on Foster Care: May 12, 2006 Public Hearing on Foster Care Okay so first of all, to all my homies (LAUGHTER) I’d like to thank you (LAUGHTER). I would like to thank you all for having us here. I would like ... http://bakids.org/2006/09/24/danielles-story/ YOUTH PROFILE: JOSEPH – WORKING HARD TO ACHIEVE HIS DREAMS Joseph learned about First Place from his social worker. He then enrolled in the Economic Literacy class, which he said was a great learning experience. When he moved into his own apartment, he said he felt like he was taking responsibility for ... http://bakids.org/2006/09/06/youth-profilejoseph-working-hard-to-achieve-his-dreams/ On June 3, 2006, Paul Hackleman, a San Mateo County foster parent, was presented with the Father of the Year Award by the San Mateo County Fatherhood Collaborative. Paul was presented the award by his foster son at the Collaborative's annual celebration attended by over 500 participants. A few years ago, ... http://bakids.org/2006/07/17/foster-father-awarded-annual-fatherhood-award/ Caseload Reduction and Program Improvement Increases funding by $98 million ($68 million state General Fund) in ongoing investments to improve outcomes of foster children and youth. Kinship Care Parity Increases funding by $8 million (state General Fund) to provide kin care providers additional support in a specialized care increment to meet a ... http://bakids.org/2006/07/04/governor-increases-funding-for-foster-care-and-child-welfare-by-82-million/ My oldest daughter is adopted. She was four days old when we arrived at the hospital to pick her up. And if ten pounds, ten ounces and 23 inches tall wasn't enough to astonish me, the idea of looking down at a baby I'd never seen before and trying to ... http://bakids.org/2006/06/27/when-did-love-happen/