WHY Pacia Life? Randy Oakley shares some history that led to the creation. Each chapter has been shortened for the sake of reader enjoyment. Longer versions with more details are available.
Since 1992, we have had 35 foster children.
Our first foster child in 1992 was 13 years old. Even though Scott had amazing adoptive parents, to this day, Scott calls us Mom and Dad. Scott was challenged with attachment disorder and learning disabilities. But overall, his need for family and a normal life far exceeded his need to continue in the care of residential boarding school.
Scott was just part of our family and was treated as such. But, on his 18th birthday, he felt the need to spread his wings and leave the nest.
The foster care system only cared about supporting him until he was 18 and to be honest, I didn’t know enough about how to prepare Scott for adulthood. I know I failed Scott.
Thankfully today, somehow he has figured out life on his terms and is doing well. But, the first number of years of his adult life was rough.
I know that the foster care system is doing the best they can with the resources they have. And, for a 17 turning 18-year-old aging out of foster care, we are not preparing them for adulthood.
Scott is just one experience. There are others. And, I would like to believe that I got better at preparing those aging out of the foster care system too.
I would like to believe that I got better at preparing those aging out of the foster care system too.
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