Foster Care and Child Welfare Week in Review – November 13, 2020
Here are some news items from this week related to foster care, adoption, and child welfare that caught my eye:
1. El Paso church joins churches across the country for ‘Stand Sunday’ in support of foster children
Since 2004, churches across the country have showed their commitment to supporting their most vulnerable populations through ‘Stand Sunday’, which is a global day of prayer for children and families involved in foster care. “We look at the world today and all that has taken place in this current state and we realize that change is inevitable,” said Pastor Eric of the Rock Faith Center.
2. North Texas families push through pandemic challenges to make adoptions a reality
From virtual visits to canceled court hearings, the coronavirus pandemic has brought new challenges to people wanting to adopt — but families say it’s all worth it.
3. Finding Forever: Active 10 yo looking for loving family
November is National Adoption Month. According to the Department of Family and Protective Services, there are 1,787 kids across the Panhandle in state conservatorship, including foster care. “Many times, it’s not only just an insufficient number of foster homes, but a lack of foster homes qualified to meet the unique, individual needs of a specific child (i.e. autism, behavioral issues, medical issues.)” according to a DFPS spokesperson.
4. State of Texas prepared to swiftly distribute COVID-19 treatments becoming available
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the State of Texas has prepared allocation plans to swiftly distribute medicines and vaccines that are now becoming available to treat COVID-19. Yesterday was the first day of what will be many announcements in the coming weeks about the availability of medicines and vaccines to combat COVID-19.
A Texas couple who were falsely accused of child abuse after their infant son fell off a lawn chair and fractured his skull have opened up about how the boy and his sister were ripped away from them amid a botched investigation by Child Protective Services. Melissa and Dillon Bright came forward to tell the story in their own words in a new podcast from NBC News and Wonderly called ‘Do No Harm’. The first two episodes were released on Tuesday.
6. Court OKs plan to help nonprofits
Through its coronavirus relief funds, the Ector County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved funding for devices and hot spots for Ector County ISD and decided to divide up funds for nonprofits. Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Simmons said there was a little more than $700,000 in potential CARES Act funding so he suggested dividing it up among the four commissioners and county judge so they can take requests.
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