Feature Articles Thank You,
Foster Parents!
Former foster child thanks all who helped her along the way
By Jennie L. Hinkley
My story began 17 years ago when I was placed in a foster home with total strangers 45 minutes away from where I had always lived. Those strangers raised me with love, support, encouragement and values. I was taken into the Department of Human Services' custody at age 9 due to many different abuses. I went to my foster home with the clothes on my back and a couple of items in a trash bag. I didn't have any photos of my family. I thought I was going home, but I soon fell into a daily routine of making my bed, brushing my teeth and completing chores. Every night before I went to bed, I got hugs from my foster parents, which was great. I still remember what a comfort it was to get those hugs as if it were yesterday. I got visitations with my biological parents after about a month into my time in foster care. It was my foster parents who comforted me as I cried when one of my parents cancelled a visit. It was my foster parents who held me and helped me through the time when I learned that my mom had voluntarily given up her parental rights for me seven days before my birthday. When I came into the system, I couldn't read. I had no hopes or goals for the future and no dreams of being a high school graduate. Before I was in foster care, going to school every day was an option for me, so I rarely went. I entered third grade after two weeks in my foster home and found I didn't have a choice to go each day. I had to be placed in a special reading program because I couldn't read, and I had to have a lot of help at home with homework. Today I love to read. As I grew older in the foster care system, my education became important to me. I started putting a lot of effort into my classes and doing my best to get on the honor roll. I kept up the honor roll grades, until I got to high school and got my first D. I got into sports in third grade. Throughout my schooling, I played basketball, softball and field hockey. I also played the cello for three years. I went to two-week camps for a few years and daily sport camps. It was my foster parents who were there to cheer me on at games and concerts. They told me how proud they were of me. At the age of 15, I went to my first Annual Teen Conference sponsored by the Department of Human Services. I liked it, and the following year, I was helping put it together. I continued helping with the teen conferences, but also got involved with the Youth Summit, participating on panels for new social worker and foster parent trainings, and the Youth Leadership Advisory Team. Most recently I helped bring Camp To Belong to Maine, a camp that reunites siblings in care. I've also been asked to be on an advisory committee that looks at the child welfare system. My biological dad stayed by my side through my 12 years in the system. He remained a big part of my life, even after reunification failed. I thank him. I visited my biological mom a few times after high school. She passed away of colon cancer 10 days before my college graduation. I had spent almost every day with her for the last week of her life. I thanked her for having the courage to give up her parental rights to me, and let her know I forgave her. She is a hero for giving me a chance to live a successful life by knowing she could not care for me. Today I am proud to say I am a Mt. Blue High School graduate, but even prouder to say that I am a Thomas College graduate. I am married to my high school sweetheart and have a beautiful 3-year-old daughter who I am proud of. I laid out my goals growing up in foster care and I reached them. I am happy to own my house and have a couple of cars and a wonderful job. But mostly I stand before you proud to be a former foster child of the Maine system. I encourage children in the foster care system and who might become part of it to set goals that they never thought possible because goals can be reached. I shout to everyone that there is no such label as "just a foster child who has no chance or who can't be somebody." I am somebody and proud of all I have done. I am proud of my life and history. It took me some time into my freshman year of college to truly believe that it was not my fault that I entered the foster care system. There was nothing I could have done differently. I was only a child, like all children who enter the welfare system. It doesn't matter what town or state you live in or who you are. No child is to blame for entering the foster care system. We are all innocent children who need love. I have made it my goal in life to share my story and success with others everywhere to give foster children hopes and dreams. I can only hope that this also helps foster parents advocate for their foster children and their goals. I understand that it takes someone with a big heart to be a foster parent. You see, foster parents have a tough job showing an abused child who has entered the system how to love and care. They have to let children know that they can be trusted. To foster parents everywhere, I'd like to say thank you for all that you do for children. You do have an impact on a child's life. If it were not for my foster parents' willingness to open their home and hearts to me as a child, I'm not sure where I would be today. I can only imagine that I was saved from a life of living on the streets, being on welfare, a teen parent and a high school drop-out. I was fortunate to maintain a close relationship with my foster family after I left the system. I love them deeply and they will always remain Mom and Dad to me. Thank you to everyone who has helped me and who took the time to make a difference in my life. You are all my heroes for the efforts you gave. To all foster parents everywhere, keep up the good work! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennie L. Hinkley is the second daughter of Raymond and Lisa Bouchard. When she was 9 years old, Hinkley entered foster care. At the time she couldn't read, but with the help of her foster parents she made up for lost time. Hinkley has a passion to change the welfare system and helped found the Youth Leadership Advisory Team, a group of current and former foster children wanting to make a difference. She helped to bring Camp To Belong to Maine. She lives with her husband Scott and 3-year-old daughter, Valerianne in Wilton, Maine. To contact her, write to jennie_lynn99@yahoo.com. | 
