While perusing some news articles, I stumbled across a website that I wish I had never seen, but it needs to be out there.

The website, Minor Topics: News and Discussion of Interest to Parents has a section on child abuse. The stories are very short, but it doesn’t matter how long they are, they are horrific.

There is a story that caught my attention because it’s about the Green Bay Packers, sort of. It seems that a father... more

What does My Space have to do with foster adoption? More than you think. I got a My Space page to keep in contact with my niece, but have ended up connecting with other foster and adoption parents.

My Space has come a long way since its origin. First and foremost is safety. Pages can now be set to private so that only people you invite are allowed to view your private information. My profile is public, but I’m also picky about what I put on it. My location is listed as Wisconsin, but I won’t put the city that I live in.

Comments... more

Missouri foster care has some incredible organizations that help to support foster parents and raise funds for programs. I have friends who have adopted from Missouri foster care and like some of the programs that are offered. A quick search on the internet turned up a few interesting ideas.

The Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association (MFCAA)is the one that I have heard the most about. Parents have told me how truly supportive they are and go out of their way to help families that are struggling to find the proper services.... more

You want to work in your community to help prevent child abuse, be an advocate, or whatever role you can, but you don’t know where to get started. Below you will find links for each child abuse prevention office on a state by state basis, along with other links that have useful information. Whether you want to advocate, or just get some blue ribbons to promote awareness, these links will give you a starting point.

Prevent Child Abuse America

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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is a month to increase awareness, and promote healthy families. Although it’s almost the middle of the month before I’m blogging about this, there are still plenty of activities going on, and ways to promote awareness.

Many states sponsor activities during this month, and other states have activities throughout the year. New York has a walk in October. California has a ... more

The Freddie Mac Foundation is sponsoring an Adoption Expo. Please GO if you can and report back!

This foundation supports the Heart Galleries, Wednesday's Child and offers grants to others working in adoption.

This free event will offer information about the adoption experience, the resources available if you're considering adoption, as well as the opportunity to learn firsthand from experts in the field and families who have adopted. Information and resources will also be available for those who have already adopted.

WHAT: The Freddie Mac Foundation's Adoption Expo – Showcasing adoption agencies... more

Each honoree receives an unrestricted award of $500,000.

Now that caught my attention!

I re-read it to make sure it didn't say $5,000 or $50,000, but nope, it was half a million cool cash.

Who did what to deserve that?

The Annie E. Casey Foundation announced the winners for their Families Count Grant.

Thanks for the various work these guys all do, families are given life skills, support and services to stay together.... more

You may have heard:

It’s National Adoption Month and tomorrow, Saturday, is National Adoption Day!

I’ve written about the day, which will post in the morning, but I’ve started wondering if adoptive families with already adopted children celebrate this day?

Sort of like Mothers Day or a Birthday?

I know we don’t. I didn’t even remember our own adoption day anniversary last year until my sister called.

It’s been two years today!

Really? Today? Wow.

I love celebrations, but Hubby... more

I've been thinking a lot about birth order as we start the adoption process again. K was the first born by her birth mom, and first child for my hubby and myself, and so she is the eldest, first child in every possible sense.

I haven't wanted to mess up that up by adopted 'out of birth order', although our agency says that the best way to add to a family is to add to the middle of the children.

In other words, if we had an eight year old and a three year old, we'd adopt a five year old. The agency says that children already... more

John Walsh from America's Most Wanted has teamed up with Baby Einstein creator, Julie Clark to create two DVDs geared toward children's safety.

They've created a fun wacky way to engage your children with the important issue of personal safety.

The first is geared specifically for children five years old and above. The website, The Safe Side, talks about this first DVD this way:

The title of our video is Stranger Safety. However, you will not see or hear the... more