qm_fall_2015

21 / 32

Virginia C apitol C onnections, Fall 2015 21
Our Kids
By Debbie Johnston,
Virginia’s Adoption Champion
The kids in foster care belong to us.
As our neighbors and members of our
community, these kids make up the future of
our state and our are responsible
for that future. We are responsible for
assuring each has a safe and rewarding
upbringing. They are our kids and we need
to look out for them.
The disappointing truth is that, unless
you are personally affected, our community
rarely gives youth in foster care a second
thought. My foundation Connecting Hearts
and I are determined to change this habit. We know that if the public
were better educated on the foster care and adoption needs in our state,
our kids would get the attention and support they deserve.
Let us take a moment to get to know our future! Let us take a
moment to get to know our kids. From newborns to teenagers soon
reaching adulthood, our boys and girls come from every background,
every race, and every ethnicity. They were placed in foster care due to
absolutely no fault of their own for reasons of neglect, abandonment,
abuse, or other risks of endangerment. Each one has suffered some
type of trauma and all have a unique set of needs.
Through my work, I have had the pleasure of connecting with
them. At a photoshoot for kids looking for forever families arranged
by Change Who Waits and Connecting Hearts, I met a set of four
young brothers. All were currently placed in separate foster homes
due to differing needs. Being such a rare occurrence, spending the
day together was an exciting event. When asked what made him most
happy, the oldest gestured at his brothers and said, “Being with these
guys.”
This family of boys along with over 800 other kids in Virginia are
available for Foster2Adopt. This program is a preferred type of foster
care placement in which a child’s foster parents agree to eventually
adopt them if going home is no longer considered an option. Adoption
by the foster family is often the best option for a child because the
family is already familiar with a child’s background and behaviors.
They are better able to understand and respond to a child’s needs in a
positive and appropriate way.
The lack of sufficient awareness about Foster2Adopt leaves
hundreds of children without forever families andVirginia in desperate
need of parents. Connecting Hearts is organizing many events across
the state in order to bring attention to the kids who need our help and
to hopefully inspire Foster2Adopt parents to step forward.
To support our much needed mission, Connecting Hearts is
hosting a golf tournament here in Richmond. We tee off on October
12th at Hermitage Country Club. Along with business and community
leaders, we will have foster care youth in attendance to play with
teams and to volunteer. A team is only $800 (or $200 for individual
players) and includes lunch, drinks, play for 4 people and a BBQ
awards ceremony post play. Special speakers will include myself and
the Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney. If the date doesn’t
work for you or you can’t find four players, you may donate a team or
spot to foster youth who would love to play!
I challenge you to join us in putting a spot light on our kids! Let’s
take responsibility of our community’s future and guarantee every
child in Virginia finds a permanent, loving home!
Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed Debbie Johnston as Virginia’s
Adoption Champion in August of 2014. An adoptee herself, she is a
successful entrepreneur, author, public speaker, and philanthropist.
She is the founder, owner, and CEO of multimillion dollar healthcare
companies, Care Advantage, Inc., All About Care, and Nurse
Advantage.V
MEMBER
Virginia Association of Professional Lobbyists (VAPL)
Association of Government relations professionals (AGRP)
2100 Mediterranean Avenue #113 • Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-513-3967 • Fax: 757-962-4551
Email:
P o l i t i c a l C o n s u l t a n t s
& A ssociates
Ken Jessup
Available in January
D AVID BAILEY A SSOCIATES. COM P U B L I C AT I O N S
To be
included contact
by November 13th.
2016
Blackbook
Lobbyists