Tori's Story: A Voice for Foster Care

I had the privilege to meet two courageous foster parents that in my mind are true angels. They were the special guests at the event I attend this weekend in San Fransisco. Both Kelli and Terry Sedgewick did everything they could to NOT have their foster daughter, Tori, returned to her birth parents. Despite the pleas from everyone, the court ruled that reunification would happen. Two year old Tori died from suspected malnutrition months after being released from foster care to her biological parents. When she died, bruises covered her body, a rib was fractured and blood tests suggested she died thirsty and hungry.

Hearing this story makes me sick to my stomach. Sweet innocent Tori did not have a voice and it is clear that the voice of her foster parents did not count to many. Why must the system fail children? I myself know firsthand that one has to beg and plead for change. It took me 4 full years of awful uncertainty before I was granted my desire to be adopted and to relinquish parental rights and visitation, and then another 2 more years of hell before being legally adopted. Something has to be done within the system to give these children a voice. Tori's life was cut much too short and her fate was in the hands of someone who did not know her and who we can only assume did not care. This has to stop!

Advokids is an amazing resource for foster parents in this position. They give FREE legal advise so cases do not end the way Tori's did. This team of lawyers knows the system from the inside out and they devote their time to giving foster parents a voice through legal interpretation so they can be the voice of the child.

Please click on the links below to view the video of the story on FOX 11 NEWS Los Angeles and visit the Tori's Torch.
Fox 11 Evening Breaking News Coverage on Tori's Story
FOX 11 Morning News LA: Tori's Story
Tori's Torch; Giving Foster Children a Voice

Advokids Casino de Paris Fundraiser / Fort Mason San Francisco California

I was honored to be invited as a celebrity guest at the Advokids Casino de Paris Fundraiser at the General’s Residence at Fort Mason in San Francisco this past Saturday. The event was a huge success and I met some incredible people who all dedicate their lives to helping children in the foster care system and their advocates. Danny Glover attended as the Honarary Chairman of the event and the special guests were two foster parents, Kelli and Terry Sedgewick, who fought to keep custody of their two year old foster child. The couple begged the courts, the social worker, they wrote letters not to return the child to the birth parents but the courts denied their wishes and ruled exactly the opposite. Once the precious little girl was reunified with her parents it was only a matter of time before she was killed. Had Advokids been introduced to the couple sooner, their little girl could have been saved by the legal advice they could have used during the court proceedings. I highly encourage any foster parents seeking legal guidance to call Advokids at 877-ADV4KID or visit their website link below:
www.Advokids.org





Advokids is the only non-profit legal advocacy organization in California dedicated solely to securing the safety and well-being of infants and children in the foster care system. Advokids’ legal services facilitate critical intervention on behalf of our youngest children in foster care because the system too often fails to meet the critical emotional and developmental needs of infants and toddlers. The early years of life set the stage for all that follows, holding the greatest danger for long-term damage and the greatest potential for successful intervention. When infants and toddlers are placed in care, they have the most to lose.

Advokids

Today, I had the opportunity to meet with Advokids up north in the Bay Area. Advokids is a legal resource for California foster children and their advocates. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending the rights and meeting the needs of children who are in the California foster care system due to abuse or neglect at home.

I met with Margaret and her team of lawyers to learn more about their non-profit and how I can help. Advokids provides direct legal assistance, support and education to foster children and their advocates, including lawyers, CASA volunteers, FFAs, social
workers, mental health providers, and foster and adoptive parents.

For example, when I was finally granted the right to be adopted it took 2 long painful years to be finalized. Advokids would have helped out by giving us FREE legal advise on how to speed things along. This is such a wonderful non-profit that truly aids those having troubles understanding the process and legality issues behind adopting foster children. Please visit their website to learn more about this vital resource.

www.advokids.org