Editorial
Front Page - Friday, April 9, 2010
Centerstone is looking for a few good families
David Laprad
James “Red” McCormick is the program manager of Centerstone’s foster care program in Hamilton County, which provides foster care, case management and therapy for children, ages 12 to 18, in state custody.
- David Laprad
James “Red” McCormick has the inside scoop on what he believes is the greatest job on Earth: foster parenting.
“It can change a child’s life,” he says. “It saved me. And there are thousands of others like me.”
McCormick is the program manager of Centerstone’s newly expanded foster care program in Hamilton County, which provides foster care, case management and therapy for children, ages 12 to 18, in state custody. Centerstone, a not-for-profit organization, is looking for foster parents who are willing to open their hearts and homes to children in need.
“We’re recruiting local families,” McCormick says. “And the children we’ll be placing with them will be from our local communities. We’re not going to bring in kids from Alabama.”
McCormick says the demand for foster parents is high, but that many people who’d excel in the role, talk themselves out of taking it because they think the kids will have bigger challenges than they’ll be able to meet.
“We make it easy,” McCormick says. “All we need are people who will commit to a child and be willing to work with a team.”
Children and teens in state custody are often vulnerable, a brochure from Centerstone reads. Many are victims of abuse and neglect, and some have behavioral and mental obstacles to overcome. Foster parents can provide safe and supportive homes for these kids.
“What we need are good role models who are willing to take a chance on a kid,” McCormick says. “You don’t have to be an expert, and you don’t need an advanced degree or certification. We bring all of that to bear through our team.”
Someone took a chance in McCormick, he says, and it made a tremendous difference in his life. Born into a low-income family, he experienced abuse and neglect at a young age. When he was 8-years-old, the state of Tennessee took him away from his mother and stepfather (the latter of which was the source of the abuse) and placed him in foster care. The family that took McCormick in provided stability, love and a nurturing environment.
“The McCormicks were the weirdest people I’d ever met,” he says. “They ate dinner while sitting at a table, they showed respect for each other and they didn’t scream at each other.” McCormick also thought it was strange that no one beat him and that the husband went to work consistently.
Although McCormick’s foster parents weren’t educated, they knew enough to treat their new resident as though he was a member of the family — and expect him to act like one, too.
“The best thing they did for me was have high expectations,” McCormick says. “They didn’t feel sorry for me; they told me everyone goes through difficult times, and said I should get over it and use my gifts to do great things. They had big hearts, but they didn’t give me a poor, pitiful child award.”
The family eventually adopted McCormick, who went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, serve as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and raise a family of his own.
McCormick has also been a foster parent many times over, giving him a keen understanding of their needs. One of the key provisions of Centerstone’s program, he says, is the ten-week training course titled “Parents as Tender Healers.” PATH teaches prospective foster parents how to address issues stemming from experiences that have impaired a child’s self-esteem, ability to trust and willingness to build relationships.
Once a child is placed in a foster home, he’s assigned a case manager, who will meet with him and his foster parents on a regular basis to ensure he receives essential care and the parents have the support they need.
In addition, therapists are available for in-home visits to help children and foster parents manage complex issues. If more specialized care is needed, child-ren and foster parents attend counseling sessions at Center-stone’s outpatient clinics.
“I’m a big believer in bringing in resources,” McCormick says. “We don’t want foster parents trying to figure out this thing on their own; there’s a constant dialog. If you have a question or encounter something you don’t know how to handle, use your team. We’re in this together for the betterment of the child.”
Centerstone provides foster parenting services on short and long term bases. Some children need foster parents while working toward reunification with their families, while others require an encouraging home environment as they work toward independent living. Meeting those needs produces unparalleled joy, McCormick says.
“People read one horror story and it scares them off, but there are thousands of success stories. You might get a kid who’s a handful, but years later, he’ll call you and thank you, and tell you that if it hadn’t been for you, he would’ve been lost.”
There are other benefits to being a foster parent, McCorm-ick says. Foster parenting can fill a void in adults who can’t have children, for example, and can be a way for people of faith to serve others. Finally, there’s the satisfaction that comes with guiding a young person down a better path, showing him he’s not worthless and undeserving, and turning him on to something positive.
“Think about the moment down the road when the kid will give you a look of love and gratitude,” McCormick says. “The feeling you get from that will settle into your heart and work its way into your bloodstream.”
While foster parents must have patience and a desire to work with kids who need extra care and support, there are other requirements.
For starters, they must be 25 years old, have a high school diploma and be able to spend time with children in the evenings and on weekends. In addition, when applying to become a foster parent, candidates must submit three letters of recommendation and complete a background check.
Foster parents must also be making a certain amount of money, although the state does provide compensation. “Child-ren are expensive. They eat 200 meals a day,” McCormick says.
In the end, the rewards will make the work worthwhile, McCormick says. “As someone who was rescued through this process, I can’t overemphasize the thrill that comes with changing a life for the better. And you will.”
To contact Centerstone about becoming a foster parent, contact Michelle Snow, foster care coordinator, at 423-710-5843 or michelle.snow@centerstone.org. Visit www.centerstone.org for more information.
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