My pull to child welfare happened after my partner and I became licensed foster parents in the state of Texas. We did years of research and listening to former foster youth and adoptees before deciding that the foster parent cohort needed the most help.

All our research prepared us for the children who spent time in our home, but there was no one to aid in education and support of the children’s bio parents and we were surprised at the pushback received in advocating for children's safe but swift reunification.

One thing I wish all people could understand, is that trauma is cyclical and generational. Having your children removed doesn’t make you unworthy of love and support, less than any other human or even a bad parent. Many parents whose children enter the system were part of the system themselves at one point. Many parents haven’t seen or been shown that there is any other way to parent. And many parents are doing their best in caring for their kiddos with the tools this life has provided them.

We need to parent these parents like we want them to parent these children.