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Abundant Life Children's Home
17983 No. County Line Rd., Ponder TX 76259
Becky Rushing, Director
940.627.7593
Providing a safe, loving home environment for the foster
and respite care of physically and mentally challenged, chronic or
terminally ill children.
Article from Wise County Messenger,
Published Thursday, July 5, 2007
A Crisis for kids:
Not enough families in Wise county to take care of kids in foster system
By Brandon Evans
The foster care situation has reached crisis
levels in Texas as the number of foster care parents pales in comparison to the
number of children in the system. Wise County is no different.
Wise County has 44 children in foster care, according to Marissa Gonzales, a
spokesperson for the Department of Family and Protective Services. But there are
only 19 spaces for foster children in the county.
What’s more, only four of the 44 foster children are actually placed in Wise
County homes. The other 38 have been moved elsewhere.
“We try to place them as close to home as we can,” Gonzales said. “When they
come into foster care, it is usually a temporary situation. We really want to
keep them in the same school district and as close to home as possible.”
“There are just not enough foster homes in Wise County,” said Becky Rushing,
owner of Abundant Life Children’s Home.
Located off a gravel road on the slow rolling slopes of east Wise County, the
home provides a family environment for special needs children stuck in the
foster care system.
Rushing and her husband Mike began volunteering at Abundant Life several years
ago. The couple has since adopted two children, Angel, 10, and Aaron, 1. They
began running the home in February.
“There are just no foster homes in Wise County,” Rushing said. “Some people
become foster parents just to adopt. Once they’ve adopted, they do not foster
anymore.”
Too many rules?
Nearly 500 rules govern foster homes and foster care agencies in Texas. And
nearly every year the Legislature scribes more into the books.
Rhoda Bailey serves as the regional representative of the Texas Foster Family
Association and president of the Wise, Parker and Palo Pinto counties Foster
Parent Association. Some of her responsibilities include informing foster
parents of new regulations and developments in foster care and providing support
for foster families.
Bailey is also a foster parent. She and her husband John have cared for more
than 120 foster children at their country home in Springtown over the past 14
years. She has also adopted four children and raised two biological children.
When questioned if increasing state regulations limit the current number of
homes for foster children, she replied, “Absolutely.”
Changes implemented on Jan. 1 require the presence of two caregivers at all
times at a foster home when taking care of children under five.
“If I have six kids, no problem,” Bailey said. “But if one of those children is
under five, there needs to be two caregivers. A lot of spots at foster homes
were lost just because of this.”
The legislation was implemented after several injuries and a death occurred at
some foster homes in North Texas.
“There were a lot of injuries and even a child’s death,” Bailey said. “There was
an overreaction by the Legislature. The state needs to look at the individual
foster home.”
Other new rules include no smoking in foster homes and a proposed rule banning
any firearms inside the home.
Rushing agrees that additional regulations limit the number of foster parents.
And at the same time, Texas Child Protective Services continue to record notable
increases in the number of children entering the system every year.
“I’m not afraid of being investigated, but I don’t have the time for it,”
Rushing said. “I don’t want my tax dollars being used on this. Instead of fixing
the problem, it is causing people not to be foster parents anymore.
“Instead of focusing CPS workers where they need to be and in the places where
there are problems — foster homes all over are suffering and being
over-investigated.
“I don’t know what needs to be done. But something needs to be done besides
making more minimum standards and running people off.”
Despite the ever-increasing standards, both Rushing and Bailey encourage more
people to take on the role of foster parent.
“There are a lot more rewards than there are problems,” Rushing said. “(The
children) just want somebody to love them. Love can cure a lot, both physical
and emotional.”
Rushing knows first hand the power of positive nurturing. Her youngest adoptee
Aaron was exposed to drugs while in the womb. At one time his future was
uncertain, but now he is a bright and happy little boy.
“People really need to check it out. It’s not hard to become a foster parent and
the rewards are well worth it.”
“It is very rewarding,” Bailey echoed.
A worsening situation
“You gotta do it for the kids,” Rushing said. “When kids go to group homes they
get no special attention. We need more foster parents for these children. They
need special attention, the same attention given by parents to their biological
children.”
But a group home is a major upgrade compared to the housing conditions for some
unfortunate foster children. In the past few months, hundreds of foster children
have spent nights in CPS offices. CPS offices from Dallas-Fort Worth to El Paso
have served as temporary homes for children in the system.
“They are putting more and more kids in offices,” Bailey said. “There are so few
(foster homes) now I don’t know when it will ever even out.”
For more information on becoming a foster parent contact the Texas Department of
Family and Protective services at 1-800-233-3405 or go to
http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adoption_and_Foster_Care/Get_Started/default.asp.
All potential foster parents must first complete a free training program.
Numerous private foster care agencies can also help one become a foster parent.
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