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"I wake up every morning and think that I could have whatever I want, I can go wherever I want, but what else is there? You can’t just go through life having things. Enough is enough. You have to give back."
– Carol, Foster Parent, Alameda County"My mission, I think I was put here to nurture kids. I’ve always had kids in my life and they didn’t have to come from me. I just need kids. That’s what I’m here to do."
– Joann, Foster Parent, Contra Costa County
What are California’s foster children like? For starters, meet Darnell. Darnell faced tremendous odds. He is physically disabled, and, as a young child, was removed from a troubled home. After a number of secure years, Darnell’s foster mother, a woman he was extremely close to, suffered a debilitating stroke, and Darnell was once again removed from his home. Despite all this, Darnell is now a happy, successful college student. How is this possible?
Darnell had not just one, but two foster families to provide him with security and guidance. After the woman who raised him for so many years suffered a major stroke, Paul and Rebecca – a couple with grown children – heard about Darnell’s situation. Though they had been looking forward to life in the Empty Nester’s Club, Paul and Rebecca stepped up and offered Darnell what he needed: a home in Burlingame, California. By staying in his hometown of Burlingame, Darnell was able to attend high school with the people he’d become close to, and he continued to excel academically, socially, and even athletically. Today, Darnell is a proud graduate of Burlingame High; his foster father, Paul, was named San Mateo County’s Father of the Year.
(Left: Darnell and Paul at San Mateo County’s Father of the Year awards.)
Darnell is an exceptional person, but his situation is not unique. Right now, about 77,800 children in the State of California are part of foster care and public adoption. These children are all ages - from infants, to toddlers, to teens. They represent a wide range of ethnicities and come from every county. They all have one thing in common – through no fault of their own, their birth families are unable to care for them.
Number of Children In Foster Care, By California County:
Alameda County | 2,555 | Learn about fostering in Alameda |
Fortunately, thousands of people are opening their hearts and homes to these children. Often, help is only needed for a short while. When the circumstances are right, the child is returned to his or her birth family. Other times, the child becomes a permanent part of the foster family, either through adoption or legal guardianship.