'Be their hope'
Alberta has over 9,000 kids in care who
are in need of a loving family
There were a few twists and turns for sisters Jade and Amelia Gregresh
before they found their forever family.
At the launch for the province's new Child's Hope campaign yesterday, the pair shared their heart-wrenching tale of floating around the foster care system before finally being adopted.
By telling their success story as ambassadors for the initiative, the girls are hoping to prompt other Albertans to think about giving a second chance to one of the 9,000 kids in care across the province, particularly those who don't want to be separated from their brothers and sisters. "What we are asking people today is to think about adopting a sibling group. Be their hope and make their dreams come true. As you know, it takes someone to make a dream come true, and for Jade and I this was our mother and father," said Amelia, 18.
The grassroots campaign will recruit ambassadors to go out into the community and spread the word about adopting, fostering or mentoring kids in care. In Edmonton, there are currently around 100 kids waiting to be adopted. About half of those are under six years old.
"If you're looking for a way to make a difference to your society, it's right here in your backyard," said Fay Orr, deputy minister for children and youth services. "We have young people who have been through experiences most of us could not imagine, right here who need help or support. You don't need to go to other countries, it's right here. This initiative is meant to get that message out to Albertans."
For a while it looked like Jade and Amelia would be permanently split up. Around six years ago the Gregreshses, who had already adopted Samantha, now 16, when she was an infant, wanted to add Jade, now 12, to their family.
The sisters had been hoping to find a home together, but, as Amelia had learned, their chances were grim. There were few people looking to adopt more than one child and just as few considering adopting kids nearing their teen years. So, she made the decision to encourage Jade to go with the Gregreshses. "Back when I was five I was confused about how Amelia and I couldn't stay together anymore," Jade remembered. "But I was five and all I wanted was a forever family to love me, even though it was scary to leave my big sister."
After moving into her new home, Jade was happier, but still missed her sister, who had stayed in foster care in Calgary, she added. "Because my new family knew I missed my sister and we had a bond, they let her come visit," she recalled.
It was after a visit one Christmas while tearfully watching Amelia board a plane back home, that the Gregreshses decided to make her part of their family permanently. "We don't understand why more people don't think about opening up their hearts and homes to kids in need," said the girls' mom, Sharon. "You will get more back than you ever give."
For more information on the campaign, visit www.achildshope.alberta.ca
Alyssa Noel
20 October 2009
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2009/10/20/11459131-sun.html
