Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute
Protection of Children
Washington, DC
I am continuing to learn new things every day and
am completely inspired by what I am learning. Recently, I had an amazing
opportunity to have lunch with a woman from the United Nations committee for
Children's Rights. She is an incredible woman who is passionate about child
welfare around the world and knowing how to approach difficult discussions with
effective action. Today, I also had the pleasure of meeting the former special
advisor for adoption and vulnerable children from the US Agency for International
Development. He was so kind and told me how he ended up doing child welfare
work, as well as what USAID does for children overseas and families wanting to
adopt from overseas. He was gracious to listen to me rave about my parents who
moved overseas today to start preparation for their work at an orphanage and as
a nurse in the community. The great thing about child welfare is that everyone
has a personal story to tell - about how they ended up working where they are -
because at some point in each of our lives we have experienced child welfare
issues first hand through adoption, foster care, poverty, teaching, etc.
Although I am learning an immense amount and loving every moment of it, I am
realizing how much I miss working face to face with clients. I miss the
personal interactions with those experiencing these issues. I think the
legislative process is wonderful and is something I hope to do one day.
However, I am getting excited to see what it would look like to be on the front
lines of child welfare through organizations like Guardian Ad Litem, Court
Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), or state social services. Needless to say,
the past few weeks have been wonderful in spite of heavy storms and loss of
power for several days. Tomorrow, I will attend meetings with Congressional
staff regarding barriers to interstate adoptions from foster care in the United
States and how those barriers are keeping children from being adopted. I am
excited to attend because I was allowed to set up these meetings for a
stakeholder who is coming to DC specifically to meet with Congressional staff.
The next few weeks will be incredibly busy as we prepare for our Foster Youth
Intern Report and their Congressional briefing!
Next time I would love to share what I am learning
about the Indian Nation and Native American child welfare issues. This is a
subject I am becoming increasingly aware of and very interested in.
- Heather Pate, 7/11/12
- Heather Pate, 7/11/12
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