Community Blog Archives by Date Blog
Welcome to our wonderfully crazy princess world! Fairy dust, tiaras, tutus and bows, God has a plan that only He knows!
We began the adoption process for our own selfish reasons—really only for us and our desire to be parents. Little did we realize that we would be creating so much more.
Adoption is one of the most beautiful, rewarding, tearful, stressful and crazy things to be a part of. Our lives have changed from work, date nights and friends to dancing and singing and dress up and make believe and hugs. Some days, we grocery shop wearing princess dresses or wear bathing suits and goggles in the tub. You get creative. You let go of trying to be in control and you just love.
I am strong, intelligent, determined, focused, funny, sassy, and energetic. Well, at least that is how my family and friends describe me. I specifically asked them to describe how I was as a teen and young adult, as opposed to now, over 20 years later, and their answers were much the same. I can remember how I felt back then, and I believed all these things about myself (perhaps because I was lucky enough to have family and friends who wholeheartedly believed those things, too). I also knew I was loved and supported by my family and friends and that if I confided in them that I was in trouble, they would have done anything they could to help.
In the last ten[+] years, Heartland for Children has established strong community partnerships and effective programs that have positively impacted our tri-county area. Under their leadership, child abuse has decreased. This change has been a result of strong commitment to prevention and evidence based programs. Additionally, their focus on trauma focused care has made a tremendous impact on children and families that have experienced abuse, neglect, and out of home placements. Heartland for Children is the model of community based care for our state.
As a social worker who was involved in the transition to this model of care in our state, I fully support and endorse their continued work and leadership in Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties.
Mary Jo Plews - Former Executive Director, Healthy Start Coalition