November is National Adoption Month which was created to raise awareness about the urgent need for adoptive families for youth and children in foster care. Meet the Patrick's! They left a wonderful review of their experience with foster care and adoption that we thought we would share. "Just finalized the adoption of our 18 month old Baby Girl! We signed up with the intention of adoption. The whole process took just under 3 years from trainings, home study, placements (many) to finalizing our adoption! Our forever child was placed with us when she was 4 days old and Children First was with us every step of the way. I love our Social Workers- never have I felt alone or out of my depth through this whole process. They have provided support through trainings, therapy for our Foster Children, matching us up with behavioral specialist, and even providing us with grief counseling when some of our babies had to return home. Really I cannot say enough good things about this agency. People with great integrity, work ethic and hearts work here.💞" To find out more on how you can help, please visit www.childrenfirstffa.com

#fostercare #adopt #fosterfamily #childrenfirstffa #fosterspotlight ...

This week's Foster Parent Spotlight is the Akana Family from Siskiyou Co! "We’ve been with Children First for about 7 years now. My husband, our daughter, and I work together to provide a ‘home away from home’ for our little guests.
I can remember like it was yesterday our first phone call. That night was for two little boys, probably 8 months and 3 years old. We said yes.
It was 9 or 10 at night when the babies arrived. We soothed, cuddled, talked reassuringly but when it came to lights out, the crying began. The littlest just cried and wouldn’t be comforted. As the midnight hour drew near, thoughts of my 6:30 am children I cared for, crept in my head. I quickly called the office leaving her a message “the baby will not be consoled and it’s almost midnight, and I’ve got daycare kiddos coming at 6:30 am. I don’t think I can do this.” Fast forward 7 years, we’re still doing it and sometimes now I have to pinch myself when I think how blessed I am. It’s not easy. Every time a new little one comes to stay there is the chaos of adjustment. Adjusting to one another, having to set behavioral boundaries, being resisted, pushed away and finally coming to the place of love and trust.
Oh, but the JOYS of love and trust. Hugs, songs and bedtime stories; talks at the breakfast table; backpacks and diapers. The sweetest little smiles. Being called mommy and daddy.

In one week we will adopt our first forever child. But in a month, we will also say goodbye to a precious baby we have cared for from birth. She’s now 6 months old. We try to just love and appreciate today and ask God for the strength and peace to go through whatever we must. That is our journey. We’re incredibly thankful we’ve been apart of this mission with you. God bless each and every family, their kiddos and the agency team that finds the best placement for the kids and assists the families. Thank you!" Tim, Tracey and Kealia Akana
www.childrenfirstffa.com

#fosterspotlight #fosteragency ...

Our Foster Family Spotlight of the Week are the Weber's! They became foster parents with Children First in 2015 and here is what they had to say about their experience: "It had its up and downs but we have loved every up and down tossed our way. We have had the opportunity to be a part of 3 amazing placements. Our first one were sisters and they were just a blessing. Their mom and dad worked their butts off to get them back and it was such an amazing thing to watch (they are still with mom and dad and are doing amazing). Our second placement was another beautiful set of sisters. These girls touched our hearts like NO other!! We had them for 15 amazing months. Don’t get me wrong, we had our ups and downs, fits and melt downs, but all worth it! The work their parents put forth was amazing to watch. It was sad and emotional to watch them hit rock bottom, but amazing to watch them work their programs and climb from the bottom back up to the top. We are still very close to mom, dad, and girls. Our hearts are forever changed and Riley was even the flower girl in our wedding.

Then our Joe. Yes, he is a bundle of fireworks, but he is ours. I feel like Joe was the missing piece to our family and maybe the whole reason we were put on this path. I am, and will forever be, grateful for all the help we got from the agency and for being allowed to walk this path with the families that we did! Being a foster parent has been a life enlightening experience." The Weber's have recently brought Joe into their lives permanently and we would love to congratulate them on growing their family. Thank you to for everything you do for these great kids!

www.childrenfirstffa.com

#fosterfamily #fosteragency #norcal #childrenfirstffa #fosterspotlight ...

Here at Children First Foster Family Agency we work hard to find quality foster homes who will provide the best service to kids who come into our care. We would like to take the opportunity to share our appreciation and spotlight those families.

Alyssa and Patty have been Foster parents since 2018. "We knew right away we wanted to take on the more challenging ISFC, because no child deserves to slip through the cracks. We have advocated for all of our children, whether it was getting extra help at school, going to court, meeting lawyers, and helping them talk about what they want in life or where they want to be. We want all of our kids to feel welcome, loved, and feel like they can succeed while they are in our home. It isn't always lollipops and gumdrops being a Foster Parent, lots of kids have some pretty rough stories, and you've got to be their wings to lift them up and help them succeed. You're going to be very busy, but it is worth every waking minute when you see the smiles on their faces!" We thank you both for everything that you do!

To learn more about becoming a foster parent, visit www.childrenfirstffa.com

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