Despite COVID-19 pandemic, Bexar County’s children’s court saw successes over last year
The Children’s Court Division made quick moves to make sure they were able to continue hearing cases. “Children’s court was pretty seamless. We had to be because what’s at stake when you’re talking about the safety and welfare of children,” Children’s Court Associate Judge Charles Montemayor. Montemayor has been hearing cases in the Children’s Court since 2005 and, at first, had no idea how the pandemic would affect his docket. Everything from court hearings, therapy sessions to adoption ceremonies went virtual.
San Antonio mental health professionals urge parents to seek help when faced with life challenges
San Antonio – San Antonio mental health professionals are urging parents facing any kind of challenges to seek help before taking matters in their own hands. In the court documents, Chairez told investigators at length about her mental health issues. Maybe there were signs that we missed.”Livingston said seeking help is crucial in these kinds of situations when dealing with mental health problems. “I think parents need to realize that it is ok sometimes to not be ok and not be able to handle everything that is expected of them,” Livingston said. Vigil tomorrow at 7627 W Military Dr, San Antonio, TX 78242 it’s a park7pm if anyone wants to join us.
New Family Tapestry adoption portal giving Bexar County foster kids a voice
SAN ANTONIO – Right now in Bexar County, more than 200 kids are waiting to be adopted. Family Tapestry has launched a new website hoping to make the process easier for potential families and also as a way for the kids to share their own stories. Texas Adoption Portal or TAP launched last month and features a profile page for every kid with what they are interested in, details about their personalities as well as information about their needs. “It’s not just about featuring them,” chief public relations officer for Family Tapestry and The Children’s Shelter Anai Biera Miracle said. Family Tapestry is hoping the portal makes it easier for potential families to step up and give some of these kids a forever home.
Bill filed would allow babies up to 12-months-old to be surrendered, mothers wouldn’t be prosecuted
SAN ANTONIO – Texas was the first state in the nation to enact a Baby Moses Law allowing mothers to safely surrender their babies at hospitals, fire stations and police stations, without penalty. Now, advocates say Texas needs to follow other states like North Dakota and Missouri that have extended their laws, allowing mothers to surrender babies up to 12 months. “In 2011, we got a call for a baby and we were told she had been left at a fire station,” said Laurie Cobb, who adopted a Baby Moses baby nine years ago. Bella, now nine years old, had been safely surrendered as part of the Baby Moses Law. Related: Advocates want to extend age of babies allowed to be surrendered under Baby Moses law
One year later: What I learned as a first-time foster parent
I write this article to share some things I’ve learned that I hope maybe could help anybody else who is a foster parent or thinking about fostering. As a foster parent, I’ve learned that some things just don’t work and have to be adjusted. Foster parenting not only means having to have patience with the child and the situation but with the foster care system as well. Kids are resilientThe greatest pleasure of all this is seeing how much our little one has improved, learned and grown. Related:The realities of being a foster parentSan Antonio gay couple share their experience adopting a child during pandemicThinking of adopting?
Hispanic, Black children wait longer to be adopted in Bexar County, experts say
SAN ANTONIO – Throughout the child welfare sector, experts say children of color have worse outcomes in the system when it comes to placement and adoption. Simmons, who sits on the Texas Advisory Committee on Promoting Adoption of Minority Children, said in Bexar County, Hispanic children wait the longest for adoption, followed closely by Black children. The extreme disparities have experts like Simmons reviewing parts of the system in desperate need of change. “Right now, the State of Texas has done a really great job of engaging with kinship programs reducing disparities for Black and Hispanic children,” Simmons said. Their adopted boys are Hispanic and Black, the two specific types of children that have historically and currently need adoption the most.
San Antonio gay couple shares their experience adopting a child during pandemic
SAN ANTONIO – Clint and Wellington Rankin-Gibson fostered to adopt under two circumstances that could have come with barriers: one, in the middle of a pandemic, and two as a same sex couple. Clint and Wellington Rankin-Gibson and their children. (Credit: Clint and Wellington Rankin-Gibson) (Credit: Clint and Wellington Rankin-Gibson)Banks said the number of child removals has risen as domestic violence skyrockets amid the pandemic. Clint and Wellington chose SJRC specifically because of its good reputation and inclusivity for LGBTQ couples wanting to foster and adopt. If you’re interested in learning more about fostering or adoption, Banks said to contact agencies like SJRC and ask questions.
Father, daughter meet for the first time after 50 years
HOUSTON – It was an emotional reunion for one Tomball, Texas father and his daughter, who were separated at her birth and then came together again after 50 years. Winski’s daughter, Kerri Beggs, said at the age of 19, she began a quest to find her biological father. Beggs, who now lives in Tucson, Arizona, took a plane to Hobby Airport on Friday, a flight that was delayed. For the first time after a lifetime of missing each other, the father and daughter embraced each other. For the last four months, I’ve been looking forward to this day.”Added Winski, “She’s my little girl.
San Antonio couple observes National Adoption Month in a big way
“Then, we found out there were four other siblings,” Jamie Hejduk said. Heather Hejduk said she thought their caseworker was joking when she asked the couple if they wanted all six. To add six children to four of their own was a family decision, Heather Hejduk’s husband said. “They just fit in our family,” Heather Hejduk said. “Little did she know her little sister wasn’t born till she was 16, and she didn’t meet her until last year,” Heather Heyduk said.
Why it’s crucial to acknowledge the race of your adopted child
Then they found Trulight127 Ministries, a local foster and adoption agency that runs a foster care campus and offers classes for parents. Because of their skin color, there are certain tools that they need.”Her two sons are Hispanic and her daughter is African American. “Our foster families, especially when they’re adopting African American children, if you ignore the fact that they’re African American, you are setting them up to fail. “I didn’t know what to do with my daughter’s hair,” Megerson said. RELATED: Hope for a Home: Adoption questions answered
State in desperate need of foster parents living in rural communities west of Bexar County
San Antonio The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is desperately looking for foster families in rural communities west of Bexar County. How a San Antonio foster care campus is getting creative amid COVID-19 pandemicCheronda Tillman, a foster care and adoption recruitment specialist, said it has always been challenging to recruit in rural communities. Its always been an issue trying to increase capacity when it comes to finding families that reside in those 27 counties surrounding Bexar, especially turning our attention to our rural west, she said. However, in rural communities recruiting is more personal, she said. Upwards -- somewhere around 200 children will come into the foster care system each and every month.