What Others Are Saying About

Foster Parents Speak:
Crossing Bridges & Fostering Change

• "Authentic voices, the voices of foster parents.  The video speaks revealingly of the realities of being foster parents.  They let us know that 'it takes more than love' to do the job. It is helpful to hear people speak of their willingness to parent many different children who will leave them to return to their own families and their feeling that it is a 'privilege' to be a mom to many kids.'' Millicent M. Willliams, ACSW, Director, Foster Care Services, Child Welfare League of America
  
  
• "How true it is! It’s so real, everything is said from the heart, that’s how it is.  I can see this being used for training caseworkers, administrators, foster parents, birth parents and other child welfare professionals.  Great job putting true feelings in words others can learn from." A NYS Foster/Adoptive Parent
  
  
• "One of the strongest aspects of the video is its honest and direct discussion about the important and challenging work with birth parents. The discussion is balanced, weighing both the negatives and positives of building alliances between foster parents and birth parents.  The underlying message of the importance of alliance building for the sake of children is strong and leaves the viewer positively challenged.  This video presents foster parents as real people and important members of the professional team. " Heather Craig-Oldsen,  Director of Social Work Program, Briar Cliff University.  Former Program Director, Child Welfare Institute.
  
  
• "An excellent training tool to get foster parents talking about the challenges and joys of working with birth parents.  The voices of the foster parents bring reality to all our talk about the value of true partnerships for children." Mary Lee Allen, Director, Child Welfare & Mental Health Division, Children’s Defense Fund
  
  
• "A very helpful hands on video.  It is very down to earth and makes foster parents feel wonderful.  Tells all sides and what they go through." A NYS Foster Parent
  
  
• "The video has great messages regarding the roles of foster parents, working with birth parents, and visitation. The foster parents were very thoughtful and honest, and I liked the practicality of some of their statements. The comments about working with birth parents were particularly helpful and also the importance of foster parents taking care of themselves, support groups being valuable." Jere Wrightsman, Director, Foster Parent Training, Center for Development of Human Services, Albany, New York
  
  
• “Outstanding, messages that potential families need to hear. The manner in which it is produced allows the foster parents to provide their experience and insight on the important issues... Great job."  Lynhon Stout, Executive Director, Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association.
  
  
• "Hearing first hand from foster parents and sharing in their real-life experiences makes Foster Parents Speak an outstanding documentary.  This film leaves a lasting impression with honest, straightforward talk about the commitment to being a foster parent and the wonderful rewards that go along with it!" Ellen R. Scalzo, Executive Director, Children Awaiting Parents, Inc., Rochester, NY
  
  
• "I think the world has funny views about who and what foster parents are, and these parents give us a sense of the integrity, the dedication, the insight, the perseverence, the humor, the anger and the frustration that all go into the mix. This film is illuminating, educating and essential to let the world know what it means to "foster." Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavo, Founder and CEO, Center For Family Connections, Cambridge, MA
  
  
• "I can't say enough about the tape...It is more than wonderful. I have shared it with my agency and hope they will use it with foster parent training and recruitment. I was so impressed with the emphasis on maintaining birth family connections and how sincere the foster parents were about how hard it can be, but how necessary for the children they are caring for. A job so well done." Betsy Forrest, Social Worker/Adoption Specialist, Children's Aid and Family Services, Cedar Knolls, NJ

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02/14/05