Straight talk about adoption and foster children

 

For those who haven't been through it, the foster care and adoption systems carry many misconceptions and stereotypes. Upstate parent Dan Bracken has been through it, and he shared his experiences with Dynamic Realty Oct. 1 as part of the real estate company's Community Connection series. He and his wife, Nicole, have two birth children and one adopted daughter. Bracken also serves on the state foster care review board. The Brackens had been looking to adopt from Guatemala when they were offered the chance for an emergency adoption of an American-born child. Jillian is now four years old. Members of the S.C. Children's Foster Care Review Board monitor attempts to place foster children in permanent situations. He says the process is often nit-picky in reviewing potential foster parents and sometimes too lenient in putting children back with birth parents who have a history of drug abuse. “We have to do better at making this system work,” Bracken said. What can we do? “You start with awareness,” Bracken said. There are also volunteer opportunities available through local churches and local efforts are underway to provide more organized assistance to orphaned children. For information on how to get involved, visit www.govoepp.state.sc.us/fcrb/links.html.