Adopting Foster-Care Children Helps Us All

Many thanks to Judge Michael Nash for his eloquently written Nov. 20 commentary, “Kids in Search of Open Doors and Open Hearts.” As a longtime volunteer in the foster-care system, I can attest to the lack of adequate foster homes as well as to the incredible resiliency of the children who, through no fault of their own, find themselves part of this system.

There is no happier experience than participating in or attending adoption day. When I hear about international or private adoptions, though I know the families’ hearts are in the right place, I feel sad for the children in L.A. County who end up being left behind.

I am the board vice president for a foster family and adoption agency. In any given month we can receive up to 100 calls from the Department of Children and Family Services looking for homes in which to place the children. We are not able to recruit nearly enough foster parents to fill this kind of demand. Judge Nash’s statement bears repeating: “Giving them a chance to grow up in loving and supportive homes benefits us all.”

Judy Weinstein

Van Nuys