Arab American Family Services kicked off Child Abuse Prevention Month with a seminar on foster care. It is undoubtable that there is a lack of foster parents in the Arab American community.
The seminar, which was held on Tuesday, March 31 at the Mosque Foundation Youth Center in Bridgeview, brought together representatives from the Department of Children and Family Services, as well as a former attorney who served as a guardian ad litem for children who are in the foster care system.
A guardian ad litem is a guardian appointed by the court to represent the interests of infants, the unborn, or incompetent persons in legal actions.
AAFS co-founder Itedal Shalabi hosted the event, which was the first of it’s kind in the community.
This was an opportunity for community members to sit in on the discussion and ask questions and inquire about the process of becoming a foster parent.
Denice Cox, Northern Region Resource Recruitment Supervisor for DCFS, was able to answer many questions from those who were interested in the application process. Many of the attendees were curious as to whether a potential foster family could specify that they are only interested in fostering an Arab or Muslim family. The answer was clear, yes.
With the large number of children looking for a foster home, it is encouraged to take in children from all walks of life, as long as they are able to care for them.
Many time, an Arab or Muslim family who lost their child, temporarily, have a fear that their child will go into a home where they will leave their language, religion or culture behind. Cox emphasized that parents of displaced children still have rights.
AAFS believes that through continued education and advocacy, any biological parents, regardless of race, religion or creed, should be able to maintain the integrity of their child’s identity, whether that be in their culture or religion.
For example, Muslim parents are able and should request through their caseworker, their attorney or their guardian ad litem, that their child not eat pork or food with pork bi-products. Or if the family wishes that their child attend Friday prayer services or take part in Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha.
The parents still have rights, despite a few bumps they may have hit in the road.
Our community should know that unless their parental rights have been terminated by a court of law, they are still the parent and have the right to request that the state abides by their reasonable requests.
Despite confusion and fears about the unclarity of the legal system, AAFS is their as part of the solution.
AAFS deems it critical that we are in need of Arab and Muslim foster care parents to enroll in the system to ensure that their children are placed in an environment that will not give them a culture shock.
This incredible decision to become a foster parent has the potential of changing a child’s life forever.
If you are interested in registering to become a foster parent, please let AAFS know. We would be interested in offering future guidance and assistance in the future.
The process is simple. Click on the link below to find out the steps and requirements to becoming a foster parent.
http://www.illinois.gov/dcfs/lovinghomes/fostercare/Pages/index.aspx
(708) 599-2237
