for the little ones.

Many kids are stuck in the foster care system. They can't go back home and they can't get out. It's not the fault of "the system", they do the best they can. It's because there are so many cases of abuse and neglect out there. There are so many parents that can't parent (not that they don't want to) because something else has become more important - often the drugs, the Meth.

Foster homes are full, are taking more kids than they 'legally' are supposed to because a full foster home is better than a dangerous home. Group homes are full. Shelter Homes are full.

One Kid A Month Dies because of abuse or neglect.

This is just in Iowa. Sweet, safe, rural, Iowa.

Kids get stuck in the system. Social Workers are busy. DHS workers are busy. Overloaded.

It's easy to catch the occasional abuse case that made the news, and sit in front of the TV on your comfy sofa and say someone should do something and to complain about the system and how bad it is.

Recently, I realized that someone is me and you.

The State does the best they can. It's up to us to shut up and step in. Maybe we can't adopt the kids that need adopting and maybe we don't have the time or the home to be a foster parent but if we have even five hours a month we can do something...

I attended training for CASA and Foster Care Review Board a few months ago and attended my first Foster Care Review Board meeting today.

It's a step in the right direction.