Animal Foster Care

Every year, there are several thousand homeless animals in need of foster care before they are ready to find new homes through adoption. As a foster parent, you provide a temporary home and care for animals anywhere from a few days up to several months. Some of the many reasons animals may need foster care, include:

1. The animals are too young for adoption
2. You are caring for pregnant animals and/or nursing moms with a litter
3. The animal requires special health care needs or are in post-surgery recovery
5. The animal needs a temporary home due to their owners fleeing domestic violence
6. The animal is a large adult or a senior
7. The animal comes from abuse or neglect

Fostering allows the animal to be prepared for adoption into a permanent home and helps prevent overcrowding within animal shelters. Most veterinary care and medicines are supplied for foster animals, with lots of support for the foster parents. A loving home with plenty of pet supplies, care and time are all that is needed to make your home a supporting and healing home for animals in need.

Depending on the organization or shelter you work with, the process in becoming an animal foster volunteer may require anything from basic inspections, training and/or registration to something similar to the process of adoption. Most organizations require that the primary care giver be at least 18 years or older, be within a reasonable distance of the shelter and be able to commute to and from when needed, and attend orientation and/or foster training. Basic personal information will also be asked of you, to include any health and physical limitations, information on the animal care environment, if any animal diseases exist within your home, anyone and everyone that will be involved with the care of the animals, your mental state (stress levels, comprehension of care and protocols etc.) and for two or more non-familial references.

If you are interested in becoming an animal foster volunteer, contact your Local Animal Shelter or Humane Society at www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/search.

Foster Care & Adoption from Foster Care

FOSTERING
All foster parents in the United States must be licensed or approved in order to provide care for children. The process is different in each state and may even vary in different counties. Both single and dual-parent families can be foster parents, with most states and regions also welcoming same-sex partners as well.

Foster care is provided by both private agencies and public agencies (state, county and tribal). For contact listings in your state, go to www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad/ and select your state. A general internet search can also produce local agencies. If there are several agencies, call all of them so that you can find the one that works best for you.

Once you call, the agency will ask for your name, address and phone number so that they can send you information about the agency and the licensing/certification process. They may also ask about your motivation and desire to foster and the agency's needs and mission. An initial meeting will also be scheduled with a licensing agent, either at a given location or within your home, providing you additional information on your role and responsibilities and allowing you to complete the application and forms.

The application process, then, determines if foster care is right for you and your family and which children you would better serve. A family assessment or "home study" is completed on each member of your family, gathering a complete social history through several questionnaires. You will also be asked to provide 3+ confidential references.

Orientation and training may either be combined with the assesment or given separately. Most states require 10-30 hours of training before becoming licensed and/or being placed with a child. Some agencies may require addition training in CPR and first aid and anything pertaining to the care of a child with special needs.

A complete background check is also done to review your criminal and child protection history. This will require your fingerprints and authorization to perform a search through the local, state and FBI databases. Any previous arrest or conviction is assessed individually and may not automatically disqualify you from fostering.

Once these steps are completed, the agency will then conduct a home safety check; which may also entail an inspection by a fire marshal or building inspector, under special circumstances. A check list will be provided, giving you a detailed list of anything that needs to be fixed or added.

At the end of the process, the licensing agent will provide you with a completed report and a list of recommended children. They will alo submit the appropriate paperwork to the licensing agency in order to issue your license. (This information was obtained from www.nfpaonline.org)

ADOPTING FROM FOSTER CARE
Thousands of children in foster care are in need of permanent families! Most children who enter the foster system come from abusive, neglectful and/or abandonment situations within their biological homes. These children, then, become placed in the temporary custody of the state while their birth parents are given the opportunity to complete services in order to be reunited with their children. Only a litle more than half of foster care children actually return to their birth families, however. The remaining half become available for adoption. Some children do become adopted by close relatives or even the foster family. But, thousands continue to wait for their forever homes.

Most children available for adoption from the foster system range from toddler to 21 years old, with the median age being 8 years old. Since some children may have a traumatic history, adoptive parents may undergo specific training to help these children heal. The adoptive process may be handled by a public or private agency that is contracted with the state. The cost of adopting from foster care is also often funded by the state, with Little to No Fees! However, private adoption agencies may contain their own costs, which can be recouped from federal or state programs once the adoption is finalized. Involving an attorney will also have its own costs. There is also Adoption Assistance to help remove any financial barriers for kids with special needs, in the form of medical assistance and monthly maintenance payments.

More information and a photo listing of children available for adoption can be found at www.adoptuskids.org.

FOSTERING TO ADOPT
The amount of time waiting for an adoption to be finalized can potentially be reduced if the adoptive parents are also licensed foster parents. The benefits in fostering to adopt is the ability to bond with your child while you wait for the adoption process to be finalized. You, also, already understand the child's needs and can accurately negotiate for Adoption Assistance and any relationships the child may have with outside family members can continue without interruption, for the benefit of the child.

What foster parents must understand, however, is that the ultimate goal is to reunify children with their biological parents or related family members. Nevertheles, the intentions and determination of the foster parents to adopt is nearly always made aware by the court during adoption placement.

Hot Car Deaths

"On average, 37 children die from heat-related deaths after being trapped inside vehicles. Even the best of parents or caregivers can unknowingly leave a sleeping baby in a car; and the end result can be injury or even death."

"Heatstroke is clinically defined as when a person's temperature exceeds 104 degrees F and their thermoregulatory mechanism is overwhelmed
- Symptoms include : dizziness, disorientation, agitation, confusion, sluggishness, seizure, hot dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, loss of consciousness, rapid heart beat, hallucinations

When a core body temperature of 107 degrees F or greater is reached then cells are damaged and internal organs begin to shut down. This cascade of events can rapidly lead to death.

Children's thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult's and their body temperatures warm at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s."

Cracking windows does very little to dissipate the heat. The largest jump in temperature occurs within the first 10 minutes. Your car essentially becomes an oven, slowly cooking anyone left inside.


HEATING STUDY SUMMARY

Average elapsed time and temperature rise
10 minutes ~ 19 deg F
20 minutes ~ 29 deg F
30 minutes ~ 34 deg F
60 minutes ~ 43 deg F
1 to 2 hours ~ 45-50 deg F
2 to 4 hours ~ 50-55 deg F

Find out more at kidsandcars.org and noheatstroke.org


Life Saving Devices🔆🚼

There are several devices on the market to help prevent a fastened child from being left inside of a hot car. However, some have proven to be ineffective during testing within realistic scenarios (ie. juice spills, different positionings, child sleeping over the sensor in a slumped position etc.).

Some promising inventions include:

SENSE-A-LIFE
A wireless and bluetooth-powered system that involves sensors, pressure meters, car speakers and a cell phone app. It comes with a small sensored seat pad that activates the system when it detects a child in the car seat; requiring only two pounds of pressure to activate. Another sensor device goes under the driver’s seat and detects when the driver exits the vehicle, sending an audible message and phone app alert to the driver stating, “Please remove the child from the seat.” If the driver doesn’t respond to the app or remove the child within a few minutes, Sense-A-life can send an alert to a second parent or caregiver. It only take 30 seconds to install and can be purchased on line for only $100 at sensealife.com.

OASIS
An invention, still in the design stage, concieved by 10 year old Bishop Curry V that would attach to a child's car seat and alert emergency personel and caregivers to a child left inside a hot vehicle. While the necessary indviduals are alerted, the device would also blow cool air on the child to prevent overheating. A protype has been built with a provisional patent and Toyota, where the father is employed, has also been shown the design. A GoFundMe page is also set up to raise awareness of the device. (www.gofundme.com/endhotcardeaths)

Locks of Love

I love donating to locks of love. I, personally, hate having long hair, since it bothers me to constantly have something on my shoulders. But, it's worth growing it out so that I can donate it to a child who has suffered hair loss. I, personally, have watched my own mother experience hair loss from chemotherapy when she was diagnosed with breast cancer years ago. She went through several wigs until her hair finally grew back. To watch a child go through something like that, however, would be heart wrenching. Donating your hair is very simple and can bring a smile to someone's face. Here's how it works:

"Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. They meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses they provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers." If your child needs a hair piece, you can apply on: www.locksoflove.org

Ways you can help include:
1. Make a Hair Donation or Financial Contribution
2. Plan an Event to Benefit Locks of Love
3. Register as a Participating Salon
4. Volunteer in our National Headquarters

How To Donate Your Hair

1. 10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length used for a hairpiece.
2. Hair must be in a ponytail or braid before it is cut.
3. Hair must be clean and completely dry before it is mailed in.
4. Place the ponytail or braid inside of a plastic bag, and then inside of an envelope.

Note: If you wish to receive an acknowledgment for your hair donation, please fill out the hair donation form, or write your name and e-mail address or mailing address on a full size separate sheet of paper and include inside the envelope. We cannot acknowledge donors who do not send their name and address according to these instructions. The form can be found at locksoflove.org

All hair donations must be mailed to Locks of Love at: 234 Southern Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL 33405-2701

Guidelines For Acceptable Donations

1. Hair that is colored or permed is acceptable.
2. Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.
3. Hair that has been bleached (usually this refers to highlighted hair) is not usable. If unsure, ask your stylist. They are not able to accept bleached hair due to a chemical reaction that occurs during the manufacturing process.
Note: If the hair was bleached years ago and has completely grown out it is fine to donate.
4. Hair that is swept off of the floor is not usable because it is not bundled in a ponytail or braid.
5. Hair that is shaved off and not in a ponytail or braid is not usable. If shaving your head, first divide hair into multiple ponytails to cut off.
6. Dreadlocks are not accepted. The manufacturer is not able to use them in the children’s hairpieces. They also cannot accept wigs, falls, hair extensions or synthetic hair.
7. Layered hair is acceptable if the longest layer is 10 inches. Layered hair may be divided into multiple ponytails.
8. Curly hair may be pulled straight to measure the minimum 10 inches.

**10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.


If you would like to organize an event in your area, please download the registration packet at lockoflove.org and submit your information by mail or fax to (561) 833-7962.

Abortion Pill Reversal

Mifepristone, also known as the abortion pill or RU-486, is prescribed by a doctor within the first seven to ten weeks of pregnancy. The pill blocks the nurturing effects of progesterone which leads to the death of the developing baby. The second medication is called misoprostol or Cytotec. Its purpose is to cause the uterus to contract and expel the baby. Misoprostol tablets are taken orally or inserted vaginally about 36 to 72 hours after taking the mifepristone, which will then cause contractions and expel the remains of the baby. This process may take a few hours or as long as a few days. The mother will need to be examined by her doctor two weeks later to ensure the abortion was complete and to check for complications. The procedure is unsuccessful approximately 5-10% of the time with the potential of requiring an additional surgical abortion procedure to complete the termination.

ABORTION PILL REVERSAL:
If you want to try to reverse the abortion, DO NOT take misoprostol/Cytotec. Then, IMMEDIATELY call this hotline (877) 558-0333. The on call nurse will ask some basic questions to see if reversal is possible and will then connect you with a doctor or medical provider in the area to start treatment. An ultrasound will be done as soon as possible to confirm if your baby is still alive and the doctor or other medical provider will prescribe progesterone, which will be given by injection in the gluteus (“butt”) muscle, by mouth or by vagina. The treatment will continue through your 1st trimester of pregnancy.

Progesterone is the natural hormone in a woman’s body that is necessary to nurture and sustain a pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks progesterone’s actions by binding to progesterone receptors in the uterus and the placenta. By giving extra progesterone, the goal is to outnumber and out compete the mifepristone in order to reverse the effects of mifepristone.

The success rate is about 55%; which means 55% of women who have the reversal continue the pregnancies and deliver healthy babies, while about 45% lose their babies. If a loss occurs, it is usually within the first two weeks of treatment.

To learn more, visit: abortionpillreversal.com

Pro-Life OB/GYNs

Every doctor should stand by their Hippocratic Oath and fight to preserve and maintain all life, inside and outside the womb. Doctors are meant to save lives, not destroy them. It's hard to see this world where we pay doctors to end not only our children's lives, but also the lives of our elders'.

If you are in need of a life-affirming (pro-life) OB/GYN, The American Association of Pro-Life OB/GYNs hold an up-to-date list of registered pro-life doctors in your local area.


In their mission statement, they state:

"AAPLOG affirms that:
-We, as physicians and medical practitioners, are responsible for the care and well-being of both our pregnant woman patient and her unborn child;
-The unborn child is a human being from the time of fertilization;
-Elective disruption/abortion of human life at any time from fertilization onward constitutes the willful destructions of an innocent human being, and that this procedure will have no place in our practice of the healing arts;
-We are committed to educate abortion-vulnerable patients, the general public, pregnancy care center counselors, and our medical colleagues regarding the medical and psychological complications associated with induced abortion, as evidenced in the scientific literature; and
-We are deeply concerned about the profound, adverse effects of elective abortion, not just on women, but also on the entire involved family, and on our society at large."


Read more on their views on abortion; to include published studies on increased rates of breast cancer in relation to abortion, their views on ectopic pregnancy, and abortions to save a mother's life, and more.

You can find them at aaplog.org

Habitat For Humanity

Habitat For Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in 1,400 communities across the U.S. and in nearly 70 countries and has helped 6.8 million people achieve strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

"Families in need of decent, affordable housing apply for homeownership with their local Habitat for Humanity. Each local Habitat’s family selection committee selects homeowners based on three criteria:

1. The applicant’s level of need.
2. Their willingness to partner with Habitat.
3. Their ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan."

"Habitat for Humanity works in a number of different ways to create decent, affordable housing.

1. In addition to new construction, Habitat also renovates existing homes in many communities, particularly in urban areas.
2. Habitat for Humanity helps people repair and improve their own homes and neighborhoods.
3. Habitat’s Disaster Response works with local communities to address a variety of housing needs after natural disasters.
4. Habitat’s advocacy work raises awareness and support for decent and affordable housing around the world.
5. Outside of North America, Habitat works with partner organizations to serve even more families through innovative financing methods."

Want to Volunteer at your local HFH or Donate? Go to habitat.org.

Synthetic Meat Through Cellular Agriculture

Our desire to eat meat does not give us the right to treat livestock or any animal with cruelty and injustice. Cellular Agriculture, however, may be a fix-all we need to this problem. We still get our meat without taking the lives of others.


"There are two kinds of agricultural products: acellular products and cellular products. Acellular products are made of organic molecules like proteins and fats and contain no cellular or living material. Cellular products are made of living or once-living cells."

Acellular animal products are made without animals by using a microbe like yeast or bacteria. For example, to make milk with yeast, the yeast are altered by inserting the gene carrying "casein," a milk protein. The yeast, now carrying so-called recombinant DNA, makes casein identical to the casein cows make.

"Cellular agriculture allows us to make milk, eggs, meat, leather, fur, rhino horn, and any other animal products from cell cultures rather than from animals. Products harvested from cell cultures are exactly the same as those harvested from an animal or a plant; the only difference is how they are made. Cellular agriculture products have fewer environmental impacts, a safer, purer product, and a more consistent supply. This is because the product is being produced in safe, sterile, controlled conditions. Another exciting aspect of cellular agriculture is the ability to design and tune what you are making. For instance, you could make meat with fewer saturated fats and more unsaturated fats, or you could make leather of different thicknesses. You could make milk without lactose, or eggs without cholesterol."

"Livestock farming is a top contributor to deforestation, land degradation, water pollution and desertification."

Despite the benefits and opportunities presented by cellular agriculture, however, it remains an underfunded area of research.

Read more at new-harvest.org

Public Cord Blood Banking

Cord Blood Donation is such an easy way to help save another person's life. It uses the stem cells from the umbilical cord of the placenta after birth, which are then utilized to help cure diseases.

Cord blood is a rich, natural, controversy-free source of life-saving stem cells. Recent research has shown tremendous potential for cord blood stem cells to be used in regenerative medicine, which may cure even more diseases. Utilizing cord blood also has a more appreciated aspect to it. For instance, harvesting stem cells from bone marrow requires a painful surgical procedure and a nearly pristine match between donor and recipient. Cord blood stem cells, on the other hand, are readily obtained from the umbilicus and placenta at the time of delivery and cryogenically stored for future use by the donor, family member, or an unknown recipient; no painful surgery (for the most part). Cord blood also has a broader match potential than bone marrow, which means that the patient and donor do not have to be a “perfect match.” Cord blood stem cells are more resistant to infection, have fewer side effects after the transplant and require fewer transplant drugs than bone marrow stem cells. What can be better?! However, if your child is born with a genetically inherited disease, their cord blood will also carry that same genetic make-up; rendering the cord blood unusable.

Today, there are over 80 diseases being treated with cord blood stem cells (ie. Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease, Retinoblastoma, Solid tumors; Sickle cell anemia, Thalassemia Aplastic anemia, Fanconi anemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, Amegakaryocytosis Histiocytosis; Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), Purine nucleoside phosephorylase deficiency, Reticular dysgenesis, Wiskott-Aldrish syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, Kostmann syndrome, Omenn syndrome; Adrenoleukodystrophy, Krabbe disease, Hunter syndrome, Hurler syndrome, Sanfilippo syndrome, Scheie syndrome, Sly syndrome, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome; Osteopetrosis, Evan syndrome).

There are two ways to store cord blood from a placenta: privately or publicly. If you store privately, the cord blood can only be used for your own use; but requires a storage fee. Here is a list of private Cord Blood Banks: Viacord.com, cordblood.com, alphacord.com, cryo-cell.com. If you store publicly, there are No storage fees, but anyone in need and happens to be a close match can use the cord blood. Some doctors may charge a collection fee, however.

Some private storage vendors have even suggested storing Cord Tissue; since different types of stem cells are available within the tissue, providing aid to any tissue diseases you may face in the future. Either way, cord blood/tissue is the way of the future. There are so many benefits that come with preserving something that would normally get thrown out.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes!

"Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc. is a 501(c)3 that was founded by Monica Kelsey who was abandoned as an infant. Monica has made it her personal mission to educate others on the Safe Haven Law and to do whatever it takes to save the lives of innocent babies from being abandoned. The Baby Boxes are very successful in 3rd world countries because it takes the face to face interaction out of the surrender. These women love their children and they want to do what's best for the child but they don't want to have their faces seen. The baby boxes takes the face to face interaction out of the surrender and protects the mother from being seen. Safe Haven Law provides No Shame, No Blame, No Names."

"Safe Haven Baby Boxes allows a mother to place her unwanted child in a baby box that is outside selected fire stations. These boxes are equipped with a heating and cooling feature and are equipped with ADT trips so emergency personal will be notified within 30 seconds that there is a newborn placed in the box. The child will then be picked up by EMS within 3-5 minutes. The Safe Haven Baby Box is a last resort option for women in crisis."

f you or someone you know needs help, call our 24-hour hotline
1-866-99BABY1

Baby Boxes!

For 75 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a Baby Box that is a starter kit for the baby’s first year. The government provided Baby Box includes: clothing, diapers and other newborn necessities and the box itself has a mattress that serves as baby’s first bed. The Baby Box is credited with helping Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.

The Baby Box Co. brings a beloved 75 year old Baby Box tradition from Finland to expectant parents around the world. The Baby Box provides a safe sleeping environment for infants. As of January 2016, The Baby Box Co. is working with government agencies, hospitals, tribes and non-profits in 20 U.S. States to distribute Baby Boxes for free to as many American families as possible. The Baby Box Co. also works globally on significant initiatives; with programs launching in 12 countries so far.

Baby Box Co has headquarters in Los Angeles, California with offices in UK, Australia, Canada, Ukraine, and Singapore.


EVERY baby deserves a strong, supported start in life!

Humane Society

Founded in 1954, The Humane Society of the United States celebrates animals and confronts cruelty—to all animals, not just dogs and cats. They take on the biggest transformational fights to stop large-scale cruelties, such as animal fighting, puppy mills, factory farming, and the wildlife trade. They pass anti-cruelty laws in every nation, end extreme confinement of farm animals in cages, stop cosmetic testing on animals, halt cruelty to wildlife, and transform the landscape for pets in poverty. They and their affiliates also care for more than 100,000 animals each year, through their rescue teams, sanctuaries and wildlife centers, free veterinary care for low-income pet owners, and other life-saving programs. Donate and Save a Life!