We were lucky to catch up with Kimberly Rowan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kimberly , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?
I was a prior foster mom. In the 5 years I fostered I had 45 kids come through my home. Many were medically fragile children needed extra help with medical needs. I also became an adoptive mom of 3.
Kimberly , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Last year I started. It takes a village. I also teamed up with two non profit that work in the foster care system. Ennis center of Saginaw and adoption Option of midland all in Michigan. Together we worked through out the year on advocacy and fundraising for area foster kids. Done podcast to radio. This year we again will work to get Christmas gifts for these kids. I believe foster children deserve the best care we can give them. They did not do anything that made them part of the foster care system. We also need to support and praise our foster parents. Which are needed in many states there is a shortage. As well as support kinship placement. Often these children because of lack of beds are placed out of the area they are removed. Each state needs to look at their foster care system and make it the best for these children. When the family can’t reunionified we need adoptive parents
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
As hard as being a foster parent is I would never not had the experience. I learned so much about the system and myself. I stood at a bed of a baby that been shaken. Held drug babies and kids with broken bones. Had a child for 3 years came and ate from the trash can. She was 3 couldn’t talk she left as a 6 year old talking. I made sure that I got these kids what they needed while I had them. I went to major hospitals in Michigan to make sure they did. Many of my foster kids were babies might not remember me now. I remember them
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
At one point I was a group home and had 3 of the 7 kids I had at the time in the hospital. Hardest part was having to say goodbye to kids you had along time. Because you can’t adopt all the kids. So you have to let them go and know you have done all you can. Song my wish is what I often think of.
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