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Website: http://www.helpingkidscope.com
This site is unique in the search I have done for grants and fundraising. Not only does this foudation seek to help adopting parents but they have a mission to serve kids in foster care and birth parents as well. As I read through their website I was impressed by what I read. There is a genuine concern here to honor the birth parents, see to the needs of foster children, and assist the adopting parents.
Here are the awards they give
SMILES AWARD
(For children in foster care waiting to be adopted)
* Recommended by somebody other then self
* Attends school regularly
* Making average grades
* Involvement in community/family
* No substance abuse
* Under the age of 18
* A letter for request must be attached with application including why should the award be given to you, how would it benefit you and how are you going to impact your own community upon receiving the award to show positive reinforcement in communities.
POSITIVE CHOICE AWARD
(For birth parents who have completed their adoption plan)
* Completed a successful adoption
* Recommended by somebody other then self
* Only can receive the award once in lifetime
* Must give written consent to speak with agency/attorney who completed the adoption
* No age requirement
* No substance abuse
* Involvement in community
* No criminal record
* No government assistance (state/federal) for the past 6 months
* A letter for request must be attached with application including why should the award be given to you, how would it benefit you and how are you going to impact your own community upon receiving the award to show positive reinforcement in communities.
PARENTS-TO-BE-AWARD
(For adoptive couples waiting to adopt)
* Completion of successful homestudy by a licensed child placing agency
* Submit criminal, financial and references with application
* No governmental assistance (state/federal) for the past 5 years
* Adoptive couple can be of any race
* Child you are wishing to adopt can be of any race, age or gender
* No bankruptcy
* No age requirement
* Can be recommended by self or others
* Can apply as many times as needed
* A letter for request must be attached with application including why should the award be given to you, how would it benefit you and how are you going to impact your own community upon receiving the award to show positive reinforcement in communities.
On there site, it describes ways to get involved as well!
Ouch! An award for placing your baby for adoption? How about an award and support for parenting?
No substance abuse for birth parents? Did I miss where they mention that for adoptive parents to be?
Wonder how other birth moms feel about it? I imagine some do approve.
Sorry, I know this probably sounds sweet to you, but…..I know that you meant well.
For adoptive parents, the home study and supporting documents covers any substance abuse, finances and many other personal issues.
The adoptive parents in many states have to supply fingerprints to the state police to verify criminal record. And the child abuse registries are checked.
Adoptive parents cannot have bankruptcy in their history but birth parents can?
And why can birth parents only apply once, but adoptive parents can apply many times.
It does seem a little strange. I would love to know the back story on this organization.
I have to say that I think that their heart is in the right place. These are good questions and I think a closer look at their site answers some. I’m just putting it out here as a resource. If I find anything more relating to that, I’ll post it!
It is a requirement for a successful homestudy to have been completed. This includes the criminal checks etc which include all of that as well.
It’s not that is sounds sweet to me, it is that someone is actually thinking of the birthparents. So many times I hear from birthparents that they are made to feel like outcasts. It makes me sick to think others would make them feel that way. So I am glad to see an organization take steps to recognize and honor birthparents. Just like every grant and award they have their guidelines as well.
Thanks for the insight and good thoughts!
Moose
The outcast part comes later, not before the adoption. As for a reward given only to those who’ve placed, they will later regret receiving this award. . .something akin to “blood money”, even if the reward had nothing to do with reasons she placed. A lot of potential there for self-loathing later. I don’t think this should be promoted among expectant mothers. I could see contacting someone a year after the fact and offering her some help with school, vocation, something like that. . .or like Jan said, help with parenting!. . .but no way promote it to an expectant mother who “Completed a successful adoption”. They should not even be aware of it ahead of time.
I guess I see what you are saying. To be straight, this award is granted only when the person is recommended by someone else. It isn’t promoted to the expectant mothers. In the blog I wrote, the main audience is mainly adopting parents.
I do agree with you that if it was something pushed toward those who are still in the decision making process it would be bad. What I see from the requirements it would be more along the lines of someone else seeing the postive choices made in the birthmother’s life and recognizing them. It is a delicate balance and one I admittedly know too little about.
Thanks again for the insight!