NEWS PROFESSIONALS-WHERE ARE OUR HEROES????
We sent this message to the News Herald and both news channels in February and have not heard back. We understand that COVID has taken on so much during this time- but we are re-sending this to those individuals to TRY to get some attention! PRAYING for a response….
Where Are The Heroes For Our Local Children?
Foster care in Bay County has become a hot button topic since Hurricane Michael destroyed so many homes in the area, including those of many foster families. In addition, many of the individuals whose primary goal was the safety and wellbeing of
foster children have been displaced and have, unfortunately, relocated to other areas. So, what are our local children to do?
Prior to Hurricane Michael, foster agencies were already scrambling for appropriate placements for local children. This was especially true of “hard to place children” such as sibling groups and those with special needs. Most foster homes could accept one or two children, and were simply not equipped for children whose needs were outside of the norm. This issue caused local children that fall into those groups to be housed in group homes in areas such as Pensacola, Tallahassee, or as far away as Orlando. This situation opened up a myriad of issues- from difficulties with family visitations, transporting children hours for court appearances, and dealing with agencies in multiple counties.
The most detrimental issues, of course, being the impact on the children. When a child is removed from their home- they are losing their identity- all things familiar to them. Routines must change, sometimes foods are different, they are without their pets, their clothing… simple things like their pillows and toys… When they are lucky enough to be placed locally, they can maintain some semblance of normalcy in that they are able to continue attending the school they were attending before being placed in care. They are able to have visitations regularly with family, continue on their sports teams, maybe attend church where they are used to- and, when they look out the car window they know where they are. They see familiar sights and places. Though their world has changed, this little bit of stability helps them to hold on to a piece of their lives while in care.
Imagine, however, being taken from your home- your family- AND your local area… transported hours away from everything you have ever known. You now face living in a new home, attending a new school, not being able to maintain friendships, leaving your ball team. Their whole life is turned upside down in a single day through no fault of their own. How sad and lonely these children must be. How confused and scared.
Now, imagine the child in question has special needs. A child with Down’s Syndrome or Autism- a child who thrives on routine to help them process and survive in the world. The regression caused by this situation can create negative behaviors, regression, depression, and withdrawal. These children need stability, and yet have had the rug pulled out from under them.
Since October of 2018 when all of our lives changed, the number of children being removed from homes in the area is on the rise. Foster Family Support Program Director Cathy Harcus recently stated the following in an interview with Jessica Foster on WJHG, “I think it’s due to stress levels on families. Maybe families who are already borderline with life stressors before the hurricane, this just tipped them to the other side. There’s a lot of substance misuse that happens in our area, so that’s the number one reason kids are removed from their families.”
What can be done about this horrendous situation? Many individuals in the area are still recovering in many ways- financially, physically, emotionally. Families are living in homes that still have damage, or in Fema trailers or fifth-wheels awaiting more permanent dwellings. These locations cannot be considered for foster care. So what can be done?
For the past few years, local Special Education teacher, Bj Forehand Meadows, has tried to offer a solution. Her idea being a foster facility for hard to place children called Angels In The Wings. Unfortunately, funding was not on her side and the non-profit was unable to move forward in their lofty mission. When Hurricane Michael hit, they were blessed to be able to officially partner with a young man with Cerebral Palsy named Jonathan VanSteenburg. Johnathan also had a dream. A dream for individuals like himself who need assistance due to the advance age or circumstances of their parents. Mrs. Meadows purchased a 10 acre homestead with the dream that both would be able to coexist on one property. This would include cabins or small houses for both the foster children as well as those adults needing assisted living.
The vision of Angels in the Wings encompasses many areas. The idea was to provide a centralized location for the residents to be able to not only live, but also experience much needed therapies- such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, behavioral therapy, and animal or equine therapy. The idea is through the homey, family style environment- residents will be able to find peace through nature and a nurturing, loving environment while maintaining the much needed connections that would be lost were they to be relocated out of county, which is happening way too often now.
Sadly, Angels is facing the same issue that it faced before the hurricane- that being funding. This begs the question- where are the heroes for these children? Where are those who would step forward and help this organization provide the much-needed solution to the issues at hand? Millions upon millions of dollars have come into the area- there are companies and organizations who could step forward with monetary or in- kind donations. Where are the heroes?
Of the 10 acres- there is a good portion that needs to be cleared for the resident’s homes to be located on. That is just the first step. The organization has been in contact with other land owners whose property is adjacent to theirs in hopes of expanding to a much larger area. One adjacent piece of land is 300 acres- which would not only be a home for Angels, but could potentially be a location for much needed housing in the Panama City area.
They ask the question- where are those who could easily make this dream a reality? Those who may not help monetarily- but could step forth to do land clearing. Those with construction companies who could come in and help with some of the buildings… companies with handicapped accessible vans who could donate one to the cause. Are there not entities out there who could step forward to do loans for this organization to help save our local children from this horrible fate?
A visit to Angels In The Wings Facebook page and website (www.angelsinthewings.com) (A Home for Special Needs Angels) gives the story of how they came into being, the ideas for expansion, their mission, and the needs that they have currently and will have in the future. What they need now are heroes. Heroes who will step forth and help them to achieve these goals and keep the children of or their GoFundMe page- gf.me/u/whzy7a (A Home for Special Needs Angels) gives the story of how they came into being, the ideas for expansion, their mission, and the needs that they have currently and will have in the future. What they need now are heroes. Heroes who will step forth and help them to achieve these goals and keep the children of Bay County IN Bay County.