The Facts About Foster Care in Missouri:
Did you know there are 410,308 children in foster care nationwide? Did you know that the state of Missouri makes up 12,654 of those children looking for families? The average age of a foster child is 8 and the average child stays in foster care for 2 years. 50% of kids over the age of 9 are less likely to be adopted. In 2023, over 500 children aged out of foster care with reports of all cases having no permanent, legal family. 29% of foster kids that age out of the system reported to end up homeless by the age of 21. Reported by Human Development and Family Services, foster children in Missouri experience at least 3 placements during their time in foster care over the course of 2 years. In that 2 years, it can range from 1 to 16 times that children experience home placements. Latest data from 2021, there are only 4971 registered foster families in Missouri.
Check out this link for the latest data on children in Missouri.
https://assets.aecf.org/m/databook/2022KCDB-profile-MO.pdf
Amendment 3 has brought awareness to the apparent need for women to end life rather than choose life. This daunting fact shows us as a society where we stand. The fact that personal rights can violate another’s natural rights with legal backing. This petition is presenting the challenge to overturn Amendment 3. With that, the percentage of children entering into foster care would likely rise. This petition is advocating that the turn of amendment 3 isn’t a loss for one side and a win for the other, but how can we work together to better our system? Our state? The alternative to abortion needs to be a safe choice. Whether it’s a supported mother with resources, community, and advocacy, or the option of foster care and adoption. Action needs to be taken that is established and firm on the idea of “liberty and justice for all.” No child should walk through this life without the idea of hope, love, and a better tomorrow. Missouri family’s, step up. Churches, step up. What are we going to do about the 12,654 children in foster care?
How Can We Step Up?
Let’s start with finding within ourselves the innate desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Become a foster parent. Sponsor foster kids or families in your area. Become a social worker, DFS worker. Understand that these children are not just a number, statistic, or face. Every single child is a life, a story, a destiny, and a complicated crisis of belief we can be a part of shaping. They don’t have to be lost in the system anymore. They don’t have to be overlooked, neglected, and silently suffer because there are not enough people who can make the right hard choice to do hard right things in advocating for change. Let’s discover a deeper purpose to life for all, together.
Let your voice be heard for the 12,654 children in Missouri in foster care!
Petition Signers: This is an update from Mike Moon, 29th District Representative as of this morning, 11/10/24, addressing Amendment 3. “Keep in mind that statutes (laws) or (constitutional) amendments, once ratified, become effective 30 days later. So, unless a lawsuit is filed by December 5, 2024 to challenge the amendment, it will become the law of the land of Missouri. “
Signing this petition is helping bring enlightenment to our Representatives that we, the people of Missouri, are not okay with Amendment 3. Signing brings attention to what change can be made in the state of Missouri is Amendment 3 is challenged. We can’t just stop at signing this petition in our district. We need this signed by 8% of registered voters in 6 out of 8 districts to push to overturn this amendment. We can all do this by doing it TOGETHER by taking a proactive stance in making phone calls, writing letters, writing emails. YOU sharing this information in YOUR world where YOU have influence. Whether it’s in YOUR workplace, YOUR doctor’s office, YOUR church, or on YOUR social media. Let’s keep expanding the reach for real change TOGETHER. Let this beacon of hope and this declaration for change be heard from every corner of OUR state.
Click this link to find what district your county is in to reach out to your Representative:
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Share your concerns for this critical issue with those who can advocate and make real change in Missouri:
Senator Josh Hawley: https://www.hawley.senate.gov/contact-senator-hawley/
Mike Moon: https://www.senate.mo.gov/DistrictWebApplication/Contact?DistrictNumber=29
Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe:
ltgovinfo@ltgov.mo.gov
Eric Burlison:
https://burlison.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact
Attach this link if you’re sending an email: