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Adoption

Taking Care of Business

January 30, 2019

27:05

Taking Care of Business

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Adoption

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- SO I GET THIS CALL ON MY CELL PHONE.
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HEY, IS THIS MARLO ECHOLS? AND I WAS LIKE, YES.
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I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE NUMBER.
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WELL, THIS IS SO-AND-SO, AND WE HAVE A BABY THAT
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NEEDS PLACEMENT.
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WOULD YOU WILLING TO TAKE HER?
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WE DIDN'T HAVE DIAPERS.
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WE DIDN'T HAVE CRIBS.
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I ACTUALLY TOOK HER TO MY PARENTS AS SOON AS I GOT
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HER AND I WAS LIKE LOOK WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
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AND SO THEY WERE LIKE, OH, WOW!
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OKAY.
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- LIKE BY THE AGE OF 8, CPS WAS CALLED ON ME
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LIKE TEN TIMES.
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- WE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER, AND SHE HAD A PRETTY
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UNIQUE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE
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STATE AND THEY HAD MADE THE DETERMINATION TO
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TERMINATE HER RIGHTS.
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NOW, THAT'S -- - HER PARENT'S RIGHTS.
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- HER PARENT'S RIGHTS, ABSOLUTELY, SO SHE COULD
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BE FREE FOR ADOPTION.
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- SO I CALL AND THE LADY SHE'S JUST TELLING ME
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TO CALM DOWN.
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SHE ASKED ME TO PULL OVER AND STOP DRIVING.
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BUT I DIDN'T, SO I JUST KEEP VIOLENTLY CRYING
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WHILE I'M DRIVING, AND I JUST KEPT SAYING
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I CANNOT PARENT.
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I CAN'T PARENT.
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- KELLY WRIGHT: ADOPTION.
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IT WORKS.
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IT INCREASES THE EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND
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COGNITIVE CAPACITIES OF THE CHILDREN WHO ARE ADOPTED.
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IT IMPROVES THE LIFE CHANCES OF THE
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BIOLOGICAL MOTHER.
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IT SAVES VAST AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR THE PUBLIC.
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IT BRINGS MUCH HAPPINESS BOTH TO THE ADOPTING
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PARENTS AND TO THE ADOPTED CHILD.
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IT'S GOOD FOR ALL INVOLVED.
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ALMOST 25% OF AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS HAVE ADOPTED,
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AND IS 135.000 CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED EACH YEAR.
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BUT DESPITE THESE IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS,
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THERE'S STILL A PRESSING NEED FOR
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GREATER AWARENESS.
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IN FOSTER CARE ALONE, THERE ARE NEARLY HALF A
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MILLION CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR ADOPTION WAITING
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FOR A HOME.
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AND FOR THE 2.8 MILLION WOMEN EACH YEAR WHO HAVE
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AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY, OFFERING THEIR CHILD FOR
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ADOPTION COULD BE A LIFE GIVING GIFT.
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I'M KELLY WRIGHT, AND THIS IS TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS.
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[MUSIC]
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TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS ...
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TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS ...
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[MUSIC]
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- MELISSA CAMPBELL: SHORTLY AFTER I TURNED 18 AND FINISHED
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HIGH SCHOOL, I FOUND MYSELF PREGNANT.
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THE NURSE CAME BACK AND SHE SAID THE POSITIVE
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SHOWED UP IMMEDIATELY, SO I WAS AT LEAST SEVEN WEEKS
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PREGNANT AT THIS POINT.
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AND I JUST STARTED VIOLENTLY CRYING.
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LIKE I COULDN'T BREATHE.
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I WAS SO SCARED, AND SO SHE GAVE ME TWO PHONE NUMBERS.
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ONE NUMBER WAS JUST A SEVEN DIGIT NUMBER AND
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THEN THE NEXT ONE WAS JUST THE THREE DIGITS,
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AND THE LAST FOUR NUMBERS WERE PRAY.
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SO WHEN I LEFT I CALLED THE ONE THAT SAID PRAY
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THINKING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO OFFER ME
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AN ABORTION.
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AND SO I CALL, AND THE LADY SHE'S JUST TELLING
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ME TO CALM DOWN.
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SHE ASKS ME TO PULL OVER AND STOP DRIVING.
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I DIDN'T, SO I JUST KEEP VIOLENTLY CRYING WHILE
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I'M DRIVING, AND I JUST KEPT SAYING,
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I CANNOT PARENT,
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I CAN'T PARENT
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STILL HOPING THAT SHE WAS GOING TO OFFER AN
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ABORTION TO ME.
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AND SHE NEVER DID, BUT SHE OFFERED TO PRAY WITH
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ME, AND THEN SHE ASKED ME NOT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS
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BEFORE I COULD SLEEP ON IT AND GIVE ALL OF MY
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OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT
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IT NEEDED TO THINK ABOUT.
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BUT ADOPTION WAS SO FOREIGN TO ME.
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I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO GO ABOUT THAT PROCESS.
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SO SHE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A MATERNITY HOME IN
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MY HOME STATE, AND SHE HAD CALLED TO SEE IF
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THERE WAS ANY AVAILABILITY IF I COULD
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GO AND STAY THERE.
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- JOAN SMITH: LIFEHOUSE MATERNITY HOME WAS WHAT I
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CALL A MODERN DAY MATERNITY HOME, AND IT'S REALLY AN
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ACCUMULATION OF MY EXPERIENCES OVER THE
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YEARS AND WATCHING THE YOUNG WOMEN AND REALLY
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TRYING TO SAY WHAT DOES THIS WOMAN NEED WHEN
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SHE'S IN A CRISIS PREGNANCY IN ORDER TO
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REACH HER FULL POTENTIAL.
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- JULIE ERWIN: 19 YEARS AGO I STARTED ADOPTION ASSISTANCE
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TO HELP FAMILIES ADOPT CHILDREN, TO HELP
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CHILDREN FIND FOREVER FAMILIES.
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SO FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS, WE HAVE REALLY HELPED
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PEOPLE WHO COME IN AND SAY WE WANT TO ADOPT HIM.
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NO IDEA HOW TO START.
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SO WE JUST KIND OF TAKE THEM THROUGH THAT
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WHOLE PROCESS.
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AT THE SAME TIME, WE HELP BIRTH MOTHERS WHO COME TO
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US SAYING I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO PARENT.
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CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME FIND A FAMILY THAT'S
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PREPARED TO PARENT A CHILD?
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A LOT OF TIMES THAT BIRTH MOTHERS WILL FIND
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US THROUGH THE INTERNET.
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BIRTH MOTHERS KIND OF HAVE THEIR OWN NETWORK,
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SO SOMETIMES WE MIGHT HAVE HELPED THEIR FRIEND.
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SOMETIMES THE BIRTH PARENTS' PARENTS CALL US AND SAY
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MY DAUGHTER IS IN CRISIS.
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CAN YOU HELP US?
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- THEY COME FROM DIFFERENT STATES.
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THEY JUST ARE NOT LOCAL.
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SO THEY HEAR ABOUT US.
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THEY'RE DESPERATE OUT THERE.
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THEY NEED HELP, AND THEY CALL US.
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NOW, WHAT IS REALLY SAD TO ME IS THAT FOR EVERY
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40 TO 41 WOMEN THAT WE GET A CALL FROM, ONLY ONE
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WILL ENTER INTO OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY
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DON'T WANT THE HELP WE HAVE TO OFFER.
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I BELIEVE THAT, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THESE
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YOUNG WOMEN HAVE LIVED A LIFESTYLE THAT THEY'RE
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ACTUALLY AFRAID OF LEAVING.
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YOU KNOW, YOU DEVELOP YOUR OWN COMFORT ZONE.
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AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THEY'RE IN WITH FATHERS
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OF THESE BABIES, THEY'RE FEARFUL OF LEAVING THAT.
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THEY'RE FEARFUL OF STEPPING OUT.
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I THINK THEY'RE SO AFRAID OF FAILURE THEY BELIEVE
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THEY CAN'T DO IT.
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WHEN THE WOMAN COMES INTO OUR PROGRAM, WE WANT HER
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TO KNOW THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON HER AND HER
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HEALTH AND HER PSYCHOLOGICAL AS WELL AS
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EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
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AND THAT WE WILL PROVIDE HER WITH ALL THE
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INFORMATION THAT SHE NEEDS IN ORDER TO MAKE
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THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR SHE AND HER CHILD, BE THIS
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PARENTING OR ADOPTION.
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IF THEY'RE STARTING TO SAY I REALLY THINK I WANT
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TO LOOK AT ADOPTION, THEN WE START OPENING THAT
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DOOR A LITTLE BIT MORE SAYING, WOULD YOU REALLY
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LIKE TO TALK TO MAYBE SOME FAMILIES THAT
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HAVE ADOPTED?
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OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO AN ADULT WHO WAS
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ADOPTED THEMSELVES?
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HOW MUCH INFORMATION DO YOU WANT ABOUT ADOPTION?
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AND THEN WE WILL ULTIMATELY SAY WELL,
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET A COUPLE THAT WANTS TO
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ADOPT, AND THEN AT THAT TIME WE WILL INTRODUCE
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THEM TO HOWEVER MANY FAMILIES THEY WANT TO
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LOOK AT THEIR PORTFOLIOS, AND THEN SAY YOU KNOW,
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MAYBE I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO ONE OF THEM.
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- THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT
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THE BIRTH MOTHER CAN REALLY DEVELOP WHAT KIND
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OF CRITERIA SHE'D LIKE FOR A FAMILY.
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SO IF SHE WANTS A FAMILY THAT HAS TWO PARENTS OR A
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FAMILY WHERE THE MOTHER IS AT HOME OR THE MOTHER
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WORKS, OR A FAMILY WITH A DOG WE CAN HELP HER FIND
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THE PERFECT FAMILY THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE
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TO ENTRUST HER CHILD WITH.
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- SO I MET WITH ONE OF THE FAMILIES FROM
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THE PORTFOLIO.
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I READ THROUGH IT, AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEM.
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SO I MET THEM.
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WE WENT TO EAT, AND JUST TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHY
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THEY WERE WANTING TO ADOPT, WHAT THEY'D NAME
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THE BABY, THE SUPPORT THEY'D HAVE.
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A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST IN GENERAL WHICH
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YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WHOSE GOING TO BE
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WITH YOUR KID THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
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SO WE TALKED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.
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I LEFT, AND AGAIN, A COUPLE WEEKS LATER WE MET
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AND THEY DECIDED THEY WANTED TO ADOPT MY BABY,
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AND I DECIDED I WANTED THEM TO ADOPT HER.
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- MARLO ECHOLS: WE HAD TO GO THROUGH A 12 WEEK
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TRAINING COURSE.
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THE CLASSES WERE 3 HOURS IN LENGTH, AND WE WERE
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TAKING THEM IN THE EVENINGS, SO WE WOULD
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SITTING IN THIS CLASSROOM WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT
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WANTED TO BE FOSTER PARENTS, AND FOR THREE
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HOURS WE LEARNED EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THE
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FOSTER CARE PROGRAM AND GOING THROUGH AN
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EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND, INTERVIEW.
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THEY LOOK AT EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR HISTORY.
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SO THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT
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PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING INTO IT FOR THE
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RIGHT REASONS.
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AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A HOME
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STUDY WITH YOUR CASEWORKER,
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AND SO THEY'RE IN YOUR HOME, AND THEY'RE
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LOOKING AT EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE
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SPACE FOR THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN YOU'RE
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WILLING TO FOSTER.
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THEN MAKING SURE THERE'S SAFETY GUIDELINES AND ALL
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OF THE CHEMICALS ARE PUT AWAY, AND YOU HAVE FIRST
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AID KITS AND EVERYTHING. IT WAS VERY EXTENSIVE.
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- I THOUGHT WOW, WE'VE GOT TO DO THREE HOURS OF
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CLASSES AFTER WORK.
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THAT'S GONNA BE, THAT WAS MY WHOLE THING, AND I
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THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE EXTENT OF IT AND I
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THOUGHT THAT WAS A LOT.
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BUT THEN WHEN YOU GO THROUGH, AS MARLO SAID,
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WITH THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, THE FINANCIAL
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MAKING SURE YOU'RE FINANCIALLY STABLE, MAKING
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SURE YOUR UTILITIES, YOU HAVE TO BRING THEM
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LETTERS TO SHOW YOU'RE UP-TO-DATE ON YOUR UTILITIES.
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- WE TRAIN OUR FOSTER PARENTS IN SPECIFIC
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INTERVENTIONS TO USE WITH KIDS WHO HAVE SOME PRETTY
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EXTREME EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES.
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SO WE'RE KNOWN AS A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE
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PROGRAM. ALL OF OUR FOSTER PARENTS ARE TRAINED AS
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THERAPEUTIC FOSTER PARENTS.
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KIDS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA NEED A
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SAFE STABLE ENVIRONMENT TO BE ABLE TO START TO
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HEAL FROM THAT TRAUMA BEFORE THEY'RE READY TO
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STEP DOWN AND ATTACH TO ANOTHER FAMILY.
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SO WHEN THEY COME TO RESIDENTIAL, WE FEEL LIKE
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OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THEM START THE HEALING PROCESS.
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BECAUSE OF THE ABUSE AND NEGLECT THAT THEY'VE
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SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF ADULTS, WE WANT THEM TO
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START TO LEARN TO TRUST ADULTS AGAIN AND TO
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SEE WHAT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS ARE LIKE,
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TO HAVE THEIR NEEDS MET IN A REALLY CONSISTENT
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AND SUPPORTIVE WAY, AND THEN AS THEY PROGRESS
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THROUGH TREATMENT, GET THEM READY TO ATTACH TO
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WHAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE THEIR FOREVER FAMILY
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WHEN THEY LEAVE US.
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THE CHALLENGE IS TO PREPARE FOSTER PARENTS
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FOR BOTH SITUATIONS.
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A CHILD RETURNING HOME TO THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILY
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OR THE CHILD STAYING WITH THEM AND IT
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ENDING UP IN ADOPTION.
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- FINANCES IS A PART OF ADOPTION, AND IT'S A VERY
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UNFORTUNATE PART BUT BECAUSE IT'S A LEGAL
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PROCESS, AND BECAUSE THERE ARE STEPS THAT HAVE
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TO BE TAKEN, THERE HAS TO BE A FEE FOR SERVICES.
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NOW, WITH THAT SAID, I ALWAYS SAY THAT FAMILIES
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RARELY HAVE THE MONEY JUST SITTING IN
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THE BANK TO ADOPT.
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MOST PEOPLE DON'T PLAN THEIR LIFE OUT SAYING
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WE'RE GOING TO START PUTTING ASIDE MONEY
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TO DO AN ADOPTION.
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USUALLY ADOPTION IS LAID ON THEIR HEART, AT SOME
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TIME THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS AND THEY HAVE TO
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FIGURE OUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT
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TOGETHER THE FINANCES.
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I ALWAYS SAY THERE ARE CERTAINLY GRANTS AND
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LOANS OUT THERE THAT PROBABLY 80 PERCENT OF
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OUR FAMILIES APPLY FOR AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY
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BASED ON NEED.
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- ADOPTION IS A MULTI-FACETED
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CONGLOMERATE REALLY.
00:11:15.180 --> 00:11:18.230
FOR SOME IT'S A BUSINESS.
00:11:18.250 --> 00:11:21.190
FOR THE ONES THAT MAKE MONEY OFF OF ADOPTION,
00:11:21.210 --> 00:11:24.150
THAT IS A BUSINESS BECAUSE YOU HAVE
00:11:24.170 --> 00:11:27.020
ATTORNEYS THAT DO NOTHING BUT ADOPTION WORK, AND
00:11:27.040 --> 00:11:31.060
THEIR FULL INCOME COMES OFF OF THE COST OF ADOPTION.
00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:36.000
AND THEY ACTUALLY GO OUT AND SOLICIT
00:11:36.020 --> 00:11:37.210
WOMEN FOR ADOPTION.
00:11:37.230 --> 00:11:40.280
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE YOUNG WOMEN WHO WALK INTO A
00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:45.060
HOSPITAL AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO,
00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:47.290
HAVE A BABY, AND THE BABY LITERALLY IS LEFT ON THE
00:11:48.010 --> 00:11:49.280
STEPS OF THE HOSPITAL.
00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:52.030
GENERALLY THOSE CHILDREN GO INTO FOSTER CARE, AND
00:11:52.050 --> 00:11:55.070
THEN AFTER A LONG PROCESS CAN BE ADOPTED
00:11:55.090 --> 00:11:57.230
OUT OF FOSTER CARE.
00:11:57.250 --> 00:12:00.290
WE'VE TRIED TO SIMPLIFY AND TAKE THE MONETARY
00:12:01.010 --> 00:12:05.120
COMPONENT OUT OF ADOPTION.
00:12:05.140 --> 00:12:09.280
- MARLO: SO WE HAD EVERYTHING ALL OF OUR PROFILE
00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.060
SET UP ABOUT CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS WHAT
00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:14.210
WE WERE LOOKING FOR AGE-WISE, BOY OR GIRL IT
00:12:14.230 --> 00:12:17.070
DIDN'T MATTER TO US.
00:12:17.090 --> 00:12:18.190
WE WERE WILLING TO TAKE ANYBODY THAT NEEDED A HOME.
00:12:18.210 --> 00:12:20.220
SO I GET THIS CALL ON MY CELL PHONE.
00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:23.040
HEY, IS THIS MARLO ECHOLS? I WAS LIKE YES.
00:12:23.060 --> 00:12:26.180
I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE NUMBER.
00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:28.110
WELL THIS IS SO-AND-SO, AND WE HAVE A BABY THAT
00:12:28.130 --> 00:12:31.060
NEEDS PLACEMENT. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TAKE HER?
00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:33.250
I WAS LIKE UH, I NEED TO TALK TO MY HUSBAND FIRST,
00:12:33.270 --> 00:12:36.260
BUT GIVE ME THE INFORMATION AND DETAILS
00:12:36.280 --> 00:12:38.170
AND CAN I CALL YOU RIGHT BACK IN FIVE, TEN
00:12:38.190 --> 00:12:41.150
MINUTES. NO PROBLEM.
00:12:41.170 --> 00:12:42.270
THEY WERE REALLY CASUAL ABOUT IT.
00:12:42.290 --> 00:12:45.130
SO GET ALL THE INFORMATION AND SO
00:12:45.150 --> 00:12:47.150
I'M LIKE IN MY OFFICE OH, MY GOODNESS,
00:12:47.170 --> 00:12:49.080
THEY ACTUALLY CALLED US.
00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.240
WE HAD A BASSINET FROM OUR SON WHEN HE WAS A
00:12:50.260 --> 00:12:52.220
BABY, BUT AS FAR AS EVERYTHING ELSE, WE
00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:56.030
DIDN'T HAVE DIAPERS, WE DIDN'T HAVE CRIBS.
00:12:56.050 --> 00:12:59.230
THERE WAS A BACKPACK OF HER CLOTHES AND
00:12:59.250 --> 00:13:03.090
A COUPLE OF BOTTLES HERE AND THERE.
00:13:03.110 --> 00:13:05.080
SO ONCE WE GOT HER, I ACTUALLY TOOK HER TO MY
00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:08.090
PARENTS AS SOON AS I GOT HER AND I WAS LIKE
00:13:08.110 --> 00:13:10.070
LOOK WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
00:13:10.090 --> 00:13:11.200
THEY WERE LIKE OH, WOW, OKAY.
00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:14.190
SO THEN HE PICKED OUR SON UP FROM DAY CARE, BROUGHT
00:13:14.210 --> 00:13:17.070
HIM OVER, AND HE WAS JUST LOOKING AT HER LIKE
00:13:17.090 --> 00:13:20.130
SHE'S OURS TO TAKE CARE OF RIGHT NOW.
00:13:20.150 --> 00:13:23.290
- TODAY IN AMERICA, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A
00:13:24.010 --> 00:13:26.090
FOSTER CARE CRISIS.
00:13:26.110 --> 00:13:28.160
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC HAS LEFT AN UNPRECEDENTED
00:13:28.180 --> 00:13:31.060
NUMBER OF CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTS AND
00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.170
IN DESPERATE NEED OF A LOVING HOME.
00:13:33.190 --> 00:13:36.030
FOR THOSE HOPING TO ADD TO THEIR FAMILY OR HAVE A
00:13:36.050 --> 00:13:39.120
DESIRE TO REACH OUT AND CHANGE THE LIFE OF A
00:13:39.140 --> 00:13:41.280
CHILD, ADOPTING A CHILD FROM THE FOSTER CARE
00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.000
SYSTEM IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
00:13:45.020 --> 00:13:48.070
AND WHILE THERE CAN BE CHALLENGES,
00:13:48.090 --> 00:13:50.200
THERE ARE ALSO BLESSINGS.
00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:52.280
- BRAD: WE HAD THREE CHILDREN.
00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:57.220
ONE WAS TWELVE, AND WE HAD A SET OF TWINS
00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:59.210
THAT WERE ELEVEN, AND WE WERE BUSY.
00:13:59.230 --> 00:14:01.290
THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON. IT WAS BUSY.
00:14:02.010 --> 00:14:04.270
WE FELT STRETCHED AS PARENTS, AND WE WERE
00:14:04.290 --> 00:14:08.100
REALLY THRILLED WITH WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS
00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:10.060
A BIG FAMILY AT THE TIME.
00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.270
THINGS WERE GREAT. THINGS WERE FUN.
00:14:11.290 --> 00:14:13.060
IT'S NOT LIKE WE LONGED FOR MORE.
00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.270
WE DIDN'T SIT AND PINE AWAY FOR MORE CHILDREN.
00:14:14.290 --> 00:14:17.210
WE JUST THOUGHT LIFE WAS GOOD UNTIL OUR WORLD WAS
00:14:17.230 --> 00:14:21.280
ROCKED ONE SUNDAY MORNING AT CHURCH WHEN WE MET A
00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:26.110
FOSTER CHILD OF A WOMAN WHO WAS A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.
00:14:26.130 --> 00:14:30.170
- JENNIFER DEVRIES: SHE DESCRIBED THE FOSTER CHILD
00:14:30.190 --> 00:14:32.030
SHE HAD IN HER HOME.
00:14:32.050 --> 00:14:33.260
SHE DESCRIBED HIM ALL IN ONE SENTENCE AS SHE SAID
00:14:33.280 --> 00:14:38.060
YOU KNOW A BLACK CHILD IS HARD TO PLACE, AND THIS
00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:42.190
LITTLE GUY HAS ASTHMA, CHRONIC ASTHMA, SO HE'S
00:14:42.210 --> 00:14:46.090
ALSO ON A MEDICALLY FRAGILE LIST.
00:14:46.110 --> 00:14:48.230
- THE MORE WE GOT TO KNOW THIS LITTLE GUY,
00:14:48.250 --> 00:14:50.110
WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE FOSTER MOM.
00:14:50.130 --> 00:14:52.280
SHE WAS SINGLE AT THE TIME, AND WE FELT LIKE
00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:56.110
SHE NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP, AND WE KEPT
00:14:56.130 --> 00:14:58.080
GETTING TO KNOW THIS LITTLE GUY AND SPENDING
00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:59.220
MORE TIME WITH HIM, AND EVERY DAY THAT WE SAW
00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:01.250
HIM, WE FELL MORE IN LOVE WITH HIM.
00:15:01.270 --> 00:15:03.190
AND HE ENDED UP COMING INTO OUR HOME
00:15:03.210 --> 00:15:05.050
MONTHS AFTER THAT.
00:15:05.070 --> 00:15:07.040
SO WE GET THIS ONE LITTLE GUY, HE'S TWO YEARS OLD.
00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:09.090
WE'VE GOT THESE BIG KIDS THAT ARE 11 AND 12.
00:15:09.110 --> 00:15:11.270
WE'VE GOT THIS LITTLE GUY THAT BROUGHT A
00:15:11.290 --> 00:15:14.100
LITTLE BIT OF BEAUTIFUL COLOR INTO OUR HOME, AND
00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:16.110
WE THOUGHT WE DON'T WANT HIM TO BE ALONE.
00:15:16.130 --> 00:15:19.150
IN OUR LITTLE MINDS WE THOUGHT WOULDN'T IT BE
00:15:19.170 --> 00:15:22.000
GREAT TO HAVE ONE MORE.
00:15:22.020 --> 00:15:23.230
GOD ORCHESTRATED THIS JUST BIZARRE SET OF
00:15:23.250 --> 00:15:26.060
CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WE ENDED UP MEETING ANOTHER
00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:29.120
TWO YEAR OLD AND A ONE YEAR OLD THAT WERE
00:15:29.140 --> 00:15:31.100
CURRENTLY BEING FOSTERED AND THAT FOSTER FAMILY
00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:33.150
COULDN'T KEEP THEM.
00:15:33.170 --> 00:15:34.270
AND WE KNEW THE MINUTE THEY WALKED OUT OF THE
00:15:34.290 --> 00:15:37.050
VAN AND CAME UP OUR SIDEWALK THAT THEY WERE
00:15:37.070 --> 00:15:41.140
GOING TO BE OUR CHILDREN, AND SURE ENOUGH,
00:15:41.160 --> 00:15:43.280
CURTIS AND CYNTHIA COME WANDERING UP AND THEY
00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:47.030
CAME SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND THEY NEVER LEFT.
00:15:47.050 --> 00:15:50.090
AND MEANWHILE THAT FIRST FOSTER MOTHER, IF YOU CAN
00:15:50.110 --> 00:15:53.020
FOLLOW ALL THIS, THE DAY THAT BRYSON OUR TWO YEAR
00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:56.090
OLD CAME INTO OUR HOME, THAT DAY THE STATE
00:15:56.110 --> 00:15:58.290
BROUGHT A TEN YEAR OLD, A NINE YEAR OLD AT THE TIME
00:15:59.010 --> 00:16:01.200
TO HER WHO NEEDED A FOSTER HOME, AND BECAUSE
00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:05.210
WE'D STRUCK UP A FRIENDSHIP WITH THIS
00:16:05.230 --> 00:16:07.160
FOSTER PARENT, THE FOSTER MOM, WE KEPT THAT
00:16:07.180 --> 00:16:11.160
FRIENDSHIP GOING AND OVER TIME FELL IN LOVE WITH
00:16:11.180 --> 00:16:14.070
THAT NINE YEAR OLD TOO. SHE WAS JUST TURNING TEN.
00:16:14.090 --> 00:16:16.250
- THE NEED IS HIGHER FOR OLDER TEENS, OLDER KIDS,
00:16:16.270 --> 00:16:22.060
ALSO SIBLING GROUPS, AND OBVIOUSLY KIDS
00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.140
WITH EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. AND THEN ALSO
00:16:26.160 --> 00:16:30.160
FOR KIDS WHO HAVE MEDICAL COMPLEXITIES.
00:16:30.180 --> 00:16:34.130
SO MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE EXTRA CARE.
00:16:34.150 --> 00:16:38.200
- ANGELA DEVRIES: SO BOTH MY PARENTS, MY BIOLOGICAL FAMILY,
00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:42.050
BOTH MY PARENTS HAD SCHIZOPHRENIA.
00:16:42.070 --> 00:16:45.200
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THEY COULDN'T TAKE CARE
00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:48.080
OF ME WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:50.130
MY BIOLOGICAL DAD, HE WAS REALLY ABUSIVE.
00:16:50.150 --> 00:16:52.290
WHENEVER I WOULD TAKE BATHS, HE WOULD LIKE--
00:16:53.010 --> 00:16:56.170
I WOULD SEE HIM WATCHING ME, OR HE WOULD HAVE MY
00:16:56.190 --> 00:16:59.030
MOTHER AND I SIT AT THE TABLE, THE DINING
00:16:59.050 --> 00:17:01.070
ROOM TABLE NAKED.
00:17:01.090 --> 00:17:03.260
I MEAN AND THEN YOU'RE NOT LIKE REALLY THINKING.
00:17:03.280 --> 00:17:06.000
LIKE WHENEVER I WAS YOUNGER, I DIDN'T THINK
00:17:06.020 --> 00:17:07.120
ANYTHING OF IT, BUT BEING AN ADULT LIKE THAT'S JUST
00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:10.090
VERY, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
00:17:10.110 --> 00:17:12.100
- CPS HAD BEEN CALLED ON HER ELEVEN TIMES, FROM
00:17:12.120 --> 00:17:15.080
THE TIME SHE WAS SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS OLD UNTIL SHE
00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:19.060
WAS KIDNAPPED AT EIGHT YEARS OLD BY HER FATHER
00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:23.150
AND TAKEN OUT OF TOWN.
00:17:23.170 --> 00:17:24.290
AT THE TIME HE WAS DELUSIONAL AND WAS
00:17:25.010 --> 00:17:27.270
TALKING ABOUT MEETING UP WITH THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND.
00:17:27.290 --> 00:17:31.140
IN TEXAS ULTIMATELY THE FBI FOUND THEM ON A PARK
00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:35.090
BENCH AND SHE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN FROM HIM.
00:17:35.110 --> 00:17:39.080
I THINK HE WAS LOOKING AT SOME LEVEL TO SELL HER.
00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:45.090
I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE, BUT THAT'S WHAT
00:17:45.110 --> 00:17:47.050
WE'VE ALWAYS SURMISED.
00:17:47.070 --> 00:17:49.000
- SO I JUST REMEMBER I WAS IN A FOSTER HOME FOR
00:17:49.020 --> 00:17:51.160
A WEEK IN TEXAS, AND THEN I MET MY SOCIAL WORKER
00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:55.020
GALA, AND SHE CAME TO TEXAS, AND THEN I
00:17:55.040 --> 00:17:58.270
REMEMBER BAWLING MY EYES OUT WHENEVER I HAD TO
00:17:58.290 --> 00:18:01.160
LEAVE THE FOSTER HOME.
00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:03.130
SO IT WAS JUST LIKE CONSTANTLY HAVING PEOPLE
00:18:03.150 --> 00:18:06.010
IN MY LIFE LIKE BE THERE, BUT NOT BE THERE, AND BE
00:18:06.030 --> 00:18:09.060
THERE, AND NOT BE THERE.
00:18:09.080 --> 00:18:11.060
- A LOT OF TIMES, IF THE FOSTER PARENT'S NOT
00:18:11.080 --> 00:18:13.030
ADEQUATELY PREPARED, CAN'T MANAGE A CERTAIN
00:18:13.050 --> 00:18:15.130
TYPE OF BEHAVIOR, OR THEIR MEDICAL CONDITION
00:18:15.150 --> 00:18:17.150
IS TOO SERIOUS, THEN THE CHILD MOVES, AND EVERY
00:18:17.170 --> 00:18:21.150
MOVE IS ANOTHER TRAUMA.
00:18:21.170 --> 00:18:25.150
EVEN IF IT'S NOT AN ABUSIVE ENVIRONMENT, THE
00:18:25.170 --> 00:18:28.160
TRAUMA JUST ADDS, IT ADDS UP WITH EACH MOVE BECAUSE
00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:34.180
IT'S ANOTHER INSTABILITY, ANOTHER CHANGE IN
00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:37.080
CAREGIVER, ANOTHER CHANGE IN SCHOOL.
00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:40.010
- AND THAT PARTICULAR HOME DIDN'T LAST.
00:18:40.030 --> 00:18:43.260
APPARENTLY, ANGELA MUST HAVE FRIGHTENED THE YOUNG
00:18:43.280 --> 00:18:48.020
MOM BY HER BEHAVIOR, AND I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY
00:18:48.040 --> 00:18:52.030
WHAT IT WAS.
00:18:52.050 --> 00:18:54.020
I JUST KNOW THAT OFTEN TIMES CHILDREN WHO HAVE
00:18:54.040 --> 00:18:56.230
BEEN ABUSED DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT OR
00:18:56.250 --> 00:18:58.150
WRONG BEHAVIOR.
00:18:58.170 --> 00:19:00.220
AND SO SHE WAS EXCUSED FROM THAT HOME, WHICH IS
00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:03.150
WHAT LANDED HER IN THE FOSTER MOM THAT WE KNOW.
00:19:03.170 --> 00:19:06.280
HER NAME IS VICKIE.
00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.240
AND SO WHEN VICKIE TOOK ANGELA, WE WENT AND
00:19:08.260 --> 00:19:10.260
LITERALLY MET HER THAT DAY, AND SHE
00:19:10.280 --> 00:19:13.030
WAS BEAUTIFUL.
00:19:13.050 --> 00:19:16.210
WE DECIDED THAT AT TEN YEARS OLD, WHAT DO TEN
00:19:16.230 --> 00:19:20.130
YEAR-OLD GIRLS LIKE?
00:19:20.150 --> 00:19:22.140
WELL, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BARBIES.
00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.280
IT'S ALL ABOUT BARBIES.
00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.140
SO OUR FAMILY THREW THE BIGGEST --
00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:26.220
- SHE'D NEVER HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY.
00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:28.100
- SHE'D NEVER HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY, AND SO IT
00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:30.120
WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE SILLY, BUT WE TOOK HER TO
00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:32.190
MY DAD'S HOUSE. SHE DIDN'T KNOW MY DAD.
00:19:32.210 --> 00:19:34.170
SHE HAD NEVER MET ANY OF MY SISTERS NOR MY
00:19:34.190 --> 00:19:36.130
BROTHER.
00:19:36.150 --> 00:19:38.050
I HAVE LOTS OF THEM.
00:19:38.070 --> 00:19:39.290
AND THEY ALL SHOWED UP, AND THAT CHILD WAS
00:19:40.010 --> 00:19:42.020
SHOWERED WITH CRAZY BARBIE JUNK IS ALL I CAN
00:19:42.040 --> 00:19:46.120
SAY. SHE WAS BARBIE'D OUT. IT WAS SO FUNNY.
00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:49.050
WITHIN SIX MONTHS, SHE WAS DONE WITH BARBIES.
00:19:49.070 --> 00:19:51.020
- THEN WE DID A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ME AT TEN, AND
00:19:51.040 --> 00:19:55.080
THEN IT WAS LIKE THE BIGGEST BIRTHDAY PARTY I
00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:57.290
EVER HAD BECAUSE LIKE, I DIDN'T REALLY GET MY
00:19:58.010 --> 00:20:00.010
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED GROWING UP.
00:20:00.030 --> 00:20:01.290
IT WAS A BARBIE BIRTHDAY, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS
00:20:02.010 --> 00:20:04.230
THE COOLEST THING.
00:20:04.250 --> 00:20:06.210
AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT, ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO
00:20:06.230 --> 00:20:10.100
FIGURE OUT WITH THE FOSTER MOM WHEN I COULD
00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:13.220
START MOVING IN WITH THE DEVRIESES.
00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:16.050
- SO THAT SORT OF BEGAN THE PROCESS OF CHILD
00:20:16.070 --> 00:20:19.140
NUMBER FOUR.
00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:21.190
AND BACK IN THE DAY, SIXTEEN YEARS AGO, YOU COULD
00:20:21.210 --> 00:20:24.290
ONLY HAVE SIX CHILDREN TOTAL, SO SHE WOULD HAVE
00:20:25.010 --> 00:20:27.120
MADE SEVEN. WE HAD THREE BIOLOGICAL.
00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:30.220
THEN WE HAD THREE THAT WERE COMING INTO US NOT
00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:33.180
YET ADOPTED, BUT STILL IN OUR HOME.
00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:35.100
AND THEN ANGELA, SO WE HAD TO GO TO THE STATE
00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:38.070
AND PETITION FOR HER, AND THEY ALLOWED US TO HAVE
00:20:38.090 --> 00:20:40.250
HER IN OUR HOME.
00:20:40.270 --> 00:20:42.170
AND IT WAS WITHIN A TWO MONTH TIME, ALL FOUR
00:20:42.190 --> 00:20:47.080
CHILDREN WERE ADOPTED.
00:20:47.100 --> 00:20:49.150
- ANNOUNCER: LOVING PARENTS PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION
00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:56.180
OF SUPPORT AND LOVE TO THEIR CHILDREN.
00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:58.130
UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALL CHILDREN EXPERIENCE THAT
00:20:58.150 --> 00:21:01.030
BLESSING, AND THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR HONE, LIVE
00:21:01.050 --> 00:21:03.230
IN FOSTER CARE HOMES WITH DEDICATED CARE GIVES.
00:21:03.250 --> 00:21:06.250
IN MANY CASES, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
00:21:06.270 --> 00:21:09.060
ABUSED, NEGLECTED, OR ABANDONED, AND ARE NOT
00:21:09.080 --> 00:21:11.280
ABLE TO CONTINUE LIVING SAFELY WITH
00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.130
THEIR BIRTH FAMILIES.
00:21:14.150 --> 00:21:16.090
THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN 400.000 CHILDREN
00:21:16.110 --> 00:21:17.280
WAITING TO BE ADOPTED IN THE UNITED STATES.
00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:19.280
THEY RANGE IN AGE FROM INFANTS TO 21 YEARS OLD.
00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.220
YOU DON'T NEED TO OWN YOUR OWN HOME OR HAVE A
00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:24.210
LOT OF MONEY TO QUALIFY AS AN ADOPTED FAMILY;
00:21:24.230 --> 00:21:27.150
JUST A PASSION AND A DESIRE TO BE A POSITIVE
00:21:27.170 --> 00:21:29.250
FORCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD WHO DESERVES TO BE
00:21:29.270 --> 00:21:32.040
MENTORED, LOVED AND CHERISHED.
00:21:32.060 --> 00:21:34.150
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADOPTION
00:21:34.170 --> 00:21:36.150
OPTIONS AND TO ENSURE THAT A CHILD OR TEEN
00:21:36.170 --> 00:21:38.180
IN FOSTER CARE GETS A SAFE, LOVING AND
00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:40.290
PERMANENT FAMILY, PLEASE CONTACT:
00:21:41.010 --> 00:21:43.030
- BECAUSE LIFE OFFERS SO MANY MEMORABLE
00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:57.160
MOMENTS, SOMETIMES, IT'S HARD TO REALIZE JUST HOW
00:21:57.180 --> 00:22:01.060
SPECIAL THEY ARE WITHOUT A CHILD THERE TO REMIND US.
00:22:01.080 --> 00:22:06.140
THE JOY A FATHER SEES IN HIS SON'S EYES WHEN HE
00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:09.110
ATTENDS HIS FIRST BASEBALL GAME, OR THE
00:22:09.130 --> 00:22:11.180
EXCITEMENT A MOM FEELS WHEN HER DAUGHTER SAYS
00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:14.160
"MOMMY" FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:18.010
THESE ARE MOMENTS MADE SPECIAL BECAUSE OF THE
00:22:18.030 --> 00:22:20.110
PRESENCE OF A CHILD.
00:22:20.130 --> 00:22:22.210
ADOPTION, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PATH TO
00:22:22.230 --> 00:22:25.120
BUILDING A FAMILY, A GIFT TO BOTH THE PARENT AND
00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:28.060
THE CHILD, AND A DECISION THAT COULD BECOME A
00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:30.270
BLESSING FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
00:22:30.290 --> 00:22:34.170
- SO IT'S BEEN ALMOST TEN YEARS, AND SHE'S
00:22:34.190 --> 00:22:37.280
DOING GREAT. I STILL GET UPDATES.
00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:40.110
I STILL GET PICTURES OF HER, AND I HOPE TO ONE
00:22:40.130 --> 00:22:42.090
DAY BE ABLE TO MEET HER.
00:22:42.110 --> 00:22:44.100
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN MY DECISION.
00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:47.010
AND SHE ACTUALLY RECENTLY ASKED FOR PICTURES OF ME.
00:22:47.030 --> 00:22:51.020
SO I SENT THOSE TO HER, AND AS SHE GETS OLDER,
00:22:51.040 --> 00:22:54.070
SHE HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS, HER PARENTS
00:22:54.090 --> 00:22:56.140
HAVE SAID, AND SHE WANTS TO KNOW HER BACKGROUND.
00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:59.210
SHE WANTS TO KNOW HER PARENTS, HER
00:22:59.230 --> 00:23:01.290
BIOLOGICAL PARENTS, AND I THINK ABOUT IT, THAT WHAT
00:23:02.010 --> 00:23:06.200
I CAN'T PROVIDE HER, THEY'RE PROVIDING FOR HER.
00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:09.210
SHE IS SUCH A DADDY'S GIRL. SHE LOVES HER DAD.
00:23:09.230 --> 00:23:12.140
IN ANY PICTURE THAT ONE OF THE PARENTS IS IN,
00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:16.230
SHE'S ALL OVER HIM, SITTING IN HIS LAP,
00:23:16.250 --> 00:23:18.260
BEING HELD BY HIM.
00:23:18.280 --> 00:23:20.160
AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT I KNOW I
00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:23.260
COULDN'T PROVIDE FOR HER, JUST FOR MYSELF,
00:23:23.280 --> 00:23:25.270
WAS A FATHER.
00:23:25.290 --> 00:23:27.190
SO I ALREADY KNOW THAT THAT WAS THE BEST
00:23:27.210 --> 00:23:30.050
DECISION AND THE BEST FAMILY TO PLACE HER WITH.
00:23:30.070 --> 00:23:33.200
THE THOUGHT AND THE LOVE THAT I PUT INTO THAT
00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:36.010
DECISION TO PLACE HER WITH HER FAMILY, THEY'RE
00:23:36.030 --> 00:23:38.160
A GOOD FAMILY, AND I DON'T THINK THAT SHE'S
00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:41.040
GOING TO HAVE THOSE CONCERNS OF WHY DIDN'T
00:23:41.060 --> 00:23:43.130
YOU WANT ME? BECAUSE SHE KNOWS SHE'S LOVED.
00:23:43.150 --> 00:23:45.240
THE FAMILY SHE'S WITH LOVES HER ENDLESSLY, AND
00:23:45.260 --> 00:23:49.040
I KNOW THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF HER TO THE BEST
00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:52.110
OF THEIR ABILITY BETTER THAN I EVER COULD HAVE.
00:23:52.130 --> 00:23:55.050
- I WOULD SAY THAT FOR ME PERSONALLY, BEING
00:23:55.070 --> 00:23:58.160
ADOPTED, IT'S LITERALLY LIKE ONE OF THE BEST
00:23:58.180 --> 00:24:02.080
THINGS THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME IN MY
00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:04.130
LIFE, AND I COULDN'T HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THINGS THAT
00:24:04.150 --> 00:24:09.090
I'VE ACCOMPLISHED OR BEEN WHERE I AM TODAY
00:24:09.110 --> 00:24:12.110
WITHOUT BEING ADOPTED.
00:24:12.130 --> 00:24:16.090
- ABSOLUTELY, IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS
00:24:16.110 --> 00:24:20.070
OF OUR LIVES; A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT
00:24:20.090 --> 00:24:25.200
THIS CHILD IS IN YOUR CARE.
00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:27.130
IT'S JUST LIKE THE BIOLOGICAL CHILD, JUST
00:24:27.150 --> 00:24:29.180
LIKE WITH OUR SON.
00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:31.090
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT -- WHEN HE WAS BORN,
00:24:31.110 --> 00:24:34.280
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT CROSSED MY MIND WAS
00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:37.080
OKAY, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CHILD NOW, AND
00:24:37.100 --> 00:24:40.170
IT'S THE SAME WITH HER.
00:24:40.190 --> 00:24:42.010
I LOOK AT HER, AND I KNOW THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR
00:24:42.030 --> 00:24:45.060
HER, BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE DEPENDING ON
00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:47.240
ME, AND I WOULD SAY ADOPTION IS WONDERFUL
00:24:47.260 --> 00:24:53.160
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CHILDREN THAT THEY WOULD
00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:57.090
LIKE TO HAVE A STABLE AND SECURE HOME AND DESERVE THAT.
00:24:57.110 --> 00:25:02.130
- I THINK MY PERSONAL MISSION IS TO REALLY
00:25:02.150 --> 00:25:05.200
CHANGE THE WAY OUR WORLD THINKS.
00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:09.070
IF WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE WE LOOK AT THIS AS
00:25:09.090 --> 00:25:11.230
WE'RE ALL IN ONE WORLD, AND IF WE CAN ALL HELP
00:25:11.250 --> 00:25:15.020
EACH OTHER SURVIVE IN THIS ONE WORLD, I THINK
00:25:15.040 --> 00:25:17.180
WE'LL BE IN A BETTER POSITION.
00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:19.240
THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT NEED FAMILIES.
00:25:19.260 --> 00:25:21.280
THERE ARE BIRTH PARENTS THAT NEED HELP.
00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:24.040
THERE ARE FAMILIES WILLING TO ADOPT CHILDREN.
00:25:24.060 --> 00:25:26.200
IF WE COULD JUST GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN
00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:29.000
ALL WORK TOGETHER TO SAY WE'RE IN ONE WORLD, LET'S
00:25:29.020 --> 00:25:32.140
EMPOWER EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE CHILDREN THE MOST
00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:36.200
BEAUTIFUL LIFE POSSIBLE, THE WORLD'S GOING TO
00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:40.050
BE A BETTER PLACE.
00:25:40.070 --> 00:25:41.250
- SO IF SOMEBODY OUT THERE IS STRUGGLING WITH
00:25:41.270 --> 00:25:44.190
THEIR DECISION OF WHETHER TO PARENT OR TO ABORT OR
00:25:44.210 --> 00:25:47.210
TO PLACE FOR ADOPTION, PARENTING AND ADOPTION,
00:25:47.230 --> 00:25:51.120
THEY COME WITH NOTHING BUT REWARDS.
00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:53.180
YOU MIGHT HURT, AND WITH PARENTING,
00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:56.050
I HURT ALL THE TIME.
00:25:56.070 --> 00:25:57.270
I HAVE TO TELL MY KIDS NO, AND THAT HURTS.
00:25:57.290 --> 00:26:00.220
I DON'T WANT THEM TO HEAR THE WORD NO.
00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:02.240
I WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY AND HAVE EVERYTHING THEY
00:26:02.260 --> 00:26:04.200
WANT IN LIFE.
00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:06.130
BUT WITH ABORTION, YOU CAN'T GO BACK.
00:26:06.150 --> 00:26:09.180
THERE IS NO "I MADE A MISTAKE, LET ME
00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.190
BACKTRACK." AND WITH ADOPTION, YOU HAVE TO
00:26:12.210 --> 00:26:16.010
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME, IF IT
00:26:16.030 --> 00:26:18.140
COMES TO THAT.
00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:20.220
AND IF NOT, THEN IT'S A GOOD FEELING KNOWING THAT
00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:23.100
I GAVE ME DAUGHTER SOMETHING BETTER.
00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:26.080
AND IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR KID BETTER,
00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:28.050
THEN ABSOLUTELY IT'S A GOOD CHOICE.
00:26:28.070 --> 00:26:30.070
IT'S A GOOD DECISION.
00:26:30.090 --> 00:26:32.110
- I'M KELLY WRIGHT.
00:26:33.190 --> 00:26:35.080
HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS EDITION OF TAKING
00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:36.290
CARE OF BUSINESS.
00:26:37.010 --> 00:26:39.070
[MUSIC]
00:26:39.090 --> 00:26:44.180
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS...
00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:52.120
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS...
00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:59.150

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