Hope’s Boy
I just finished reading an incredible book – Hope’s Boy by Andrew Bridge.Amazon.com: Hope’s Boy: A Memoir: Books: Andrew Bridge This amazing book tells the story of one boy’s journey through the foster care system, but it’s more than that – it’s a story about the love of a boy for his mom and her love for him. It’s a story about the need for a place to call home and the need for the love of a family. I encourage everyone to read this book – it’s wonderful and eye-opening. The resilience of Andy is awe-inspiring and his love for a mother who couldn’t care for him is heartwrenching. Would Andy be taken from his mother today? Some say no, but others say yes. I fall somewhere in the middle — it depends. I would hope that Hope’s boy would be saved, but I don’t know. I see children swirling in the abyss of foster care everyday and it tears at my heart.
Now, for those who know me, you’re thinking that this book speaks to the work that I do – and it does. For those who don’t know me, I work with an advocacy group, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) that speaks up for abused and neglected children (many in the foster care system). This book isn’t just for people in the child abuse arena, it’s for everyone. We, as a people, must come together to create a solution for our children in need. Over 500,000 children are in the foster care system and as these children grow up they are much more likely to drop out of school, become teenage parents or become homeless.
Our children deserve better – growing up can be tough, even in a loving family. Growing up without a family is almost impossible. Our children need people to step up and make a difference. Contact your local CASA program www.nationalcasa.org to learn about one way you can make a lifelong impact.