qm_summer

irginia

apitol

onnections

, S

ummer

2015

We’re Just

Getting Started

By Debbie Johnston,

Virginia’s Adoption Champion

A few short months feel like years to

us at Connecting Hearts– The Deborah

J Johnston foundation! Armed with the

insight I have gained as governor appointed

Virginia’s Adoption Champion, we jumped

into our work head first. By meeting with local adoption and foster care

agencies, organizations, and advocates, we started gaining a clearer

picture of the very complex and layered system. One thing I know for

certain is that I have merely scratched the surface of understanding the

intricacies of our state’s process.

Every day I learn something new about the system and the

problems our state faces. Some of the stories I have heard from foster

youth, foster parents, and those working in the field are nothing short

of shocking. Thousands of children in Virginia have been and will

continue to be removed from their homes due to neglect, abuse, or

other forms of endangerment. These kids are our neighbors. They are

your children’s classmates. They are our future! It is our responsibility

as a state to not only care for these children, but to offer them proper

support to address the trauma they have suffered.

The good news is that community members throughout the

Commonwealth are diligently working to help these children. Through

my efforts, I have met so many wonderful and extremely dedicated

professionals and advocates. It is truly amazing how deeply invested

they are in navigating the foster and adoption system to help our

children. Although these individuals work sometimes literally night

and day, more work is always on the horizon. This is never-ending

work because there will always be children in need of help. With

Connecting Hearts, I am hoping to supplement and enhance exiting

efforts. My goal is to make the foster care and adoption field a more

connected and collaborative community across the state. All of the

organizations, professionals, and advocates in this field have the same

goal: supporting children and families and finding children happy and

loving homes, whether they be foster or adoptive. The demanding work

may prevent them from becoming familiar with the efforts of others.

There is power in numbers. I believe that by partnering and sharing

experience and resources, our state could help kids more efficiently.

Apart from assisting the overall system, my main priority is

awareness. Rarely in the mind of the public is the widespread problem

of children needing to enter foster care and then having difficulties

finding a permanent family (in cases when returning home is no

longer an option). Organizations and professionals are working hard,

but the Commonwealth as a whole needs to rally behind Virginia’s

children. Our community has the power to make a difference in

their lives! Over 750 kids in foster care are ready to be adopted by

a loving family. During a time when stability is hugely important to

development, they wait in temporary and changing environments.

Some ways members of our community can help are by talking about

the issue, volunteering at local organizations, or identifying potential

foster or adoptive families.

I am here to offer support to those who are helping our children

and to bring this problem to the attention of the public. I know the road

ahead is long, but the thought of helping even one child have a safer

and happier life is all the motivation I need! Connecting Hearts is just

getting started, but I am confident our efforts will help the children who

need and deserve it!

Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed Debbie Johnston as Virginia’s

Adoption Champion in August of 2014. She is a successful

entrepreneur, author, public speaker, and philanthropist. She is

the founder, owner, and CEO of multimillion dollar healthcare

companies, Care Advantage, Inc., All About Care, and Nurse

Advantage.