Failure is Not an Option for John

By Olivia Giegerich, Foster Care Case Manager

There was a brief silence on the phone as the college advisor paused to formulate her next remark.

“He’s 19 and in foster care?” she said.

Yes he is. John has been in care since he was 14, when his adoptive parents gave him up - a fact far more astonishing, if you ask me, than his circumstances today.

Nearly six-feet-tall, John doesn’t walk so much he strides. A mixed martial arts afficianado, he once fought in the ring as an amateur (for the record, against all remonstrance from me and his support team). He broke a finger but he’ll tell you, with a subdued, sly smile, that he won.

Still, that graceful stride belies an extreme hesitance to communicate his own needs and wants. When I met him nearly two years ago, John verged on a stutter.

You Can’t Take It With You: The Importance Of Estate Planning

As the old adage says, you can’t take it with you, but many Americans seem to be planning to do just that.

More than half (55 percent) of all adult Americans do not have a will, according to a new survey, and that percentage has remained consistent over the past three years. These results come from a survey on estate planning that was conducted by Harris Interactive® for Martindale-Hubbell®, a comprehensive online resource for finding lawyers.

Back-to-School Wish List

Remember the thrill of going back to school? The excitement of new back packs, crayons, a full set of pencils? This academic mess-kit was the sign of a new year, a new start. These simple supplies were literally the tools for a successful academic year. You or your group can help prepare a child to start the school year ready to learn. Here are some items that the children need to start back to school.

Re-Organization Creates Stronger, Simpler Programs for Children and Families

Presbyterian Children's Services and Children's Foundation of Mid-America have merged.  The new agency will be known as Children's Foundation of Mid-America, Inc.