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Last Updated: Feb 16th, 2008 - 17:39:39 |
East Valley Life
December 5, 2005
Brighton Mason is asked what it’s like to have a baby brother. "Awesome!" he says without pause. Although he can’t say it yet, his little brother, Tyler, feels the same way.
When Brighton runs outside to bounce a ball, Tyler scoots his walker over to the window to watch. When Brighton comes back inside, Tyler crawls over to get his attention.
Not too long ago, the 7-year-old Chandler boy was worried he’d be an only child. His parents were, too, after a miscarriage and unsuccessful fertility treatments.
Then Valerie and Marcus Mason called Aid to Adoption of Special Kids, a nonprofit agency that recruits and trains foster and adoptive parents and places children in homes throughout the Valley. The agency also provides counseling, respite care and case management and operates a family resource center in Phoenix.
Tribune readers can help nonprofit agencies such as Aid to Adoption of Special Kids that serve foster and special needs children in the East Valley through this year’s holiday fundraising campaign, Our Children Matter. Taxdeductible donations will be administered by the Mesa United Way, and the Tribune is chipping in a 50 percent match up to $10,000.
Within months of calling the agency, the Masons were certified to adopt and in March they brought Tyler home. His adoption is expected to be final in the next few months.
"They just picked us out of a group of families they thought were right for Tyler," Valerie Marcus said. "They liked the fact that we had an older son . . . and (Tyler) would have a big brother who would teach him things."
Tyler was just a few hours old when he was dropped off at a hospital. Arizona law allows a healthy baby to be left within the first three days of life, no questions asked and no neglect charges filed. He’s one of 10 babies deposited at hospitals and fire stations since the law was passed in 2001.
"I wonder if (the baby’s mother) hadn’t given him up, what kind of conditions he’d be living in right now," Valerie said. "He’s definitely given us more than we’ve given him. He’s a treasure."
Among the nearly 10,000 Arizona foster children, 280 were eligible for adoption with no families identified as of March 30, according to the latest report from the state Department of Economic Security.
Aid to Adoption of Special Kids has specialized in finding homes for hard-to-place children since 1988. That includes older kids and children with special health care needs. Every child who has been abused or neglected will have some kind of special needs, said Barb Trella, the agency’s training and recruitment director.
"Because of their history, they are going to have challenges," she said. "It takes more than love. It takes a lot of education and a lot of commitment."
The growing population of children in foster care has strained the child welfare system and a shortage of foster and adoptive parents continues.
Tyler has found his home, with a big brother to show him how to play soccer and basketball, and make his "owies" feel better.
As the boys roll a plastic cup back and forth across the tile floor, the baby pinches his finger and starts to whimper. Brighton instinctively gives his brother’s hand a little kiss. And all is right again in Tyler’s world.
Arizona’s baby dropoff law
Healthy newborns 72 hours old or younger may be dropped off at hospitals, fire stations, participating churches and child welfare agencies without fear of prosecution. Medical information will be requested but is not required. The child becomes a ward of the state. The First United Methodist Church of Mesa, 15 E. First Ave., has a 24-hour telephone line outside the building. Information: (877) 440-2229 or www.safeplacefornewborns.org
To learn more
Information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent:
• Department of Economic Security, www.azkidsneedu.gov
• Aid to Adoption of Special Kids, (602) 254-2275 or www.aask-az.org
• Arizona Action for Foster Children, www.arizonaaction.org
© Copyright 2008 by AdoptionDesk.com
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