Sacramento Family Answers the Call - Celebrating Foster Care Month

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - May 1, 2018 - PRLog -- It begins with "the call" – when a child requires foster care, the need is urgent. For Antelope family Lisa Little and Christian Villela, the call came six years ago when a young girl needed a safe, nurturing home.

"I was a foster child," explains Lisa.  "My husband and I knew we wanted to be parents.  Being both biological and foster parents are equal to us."

In California, roughly 50,000 children live with either relatives or foster parents who provide both short and long-term care during periods when the child is unable to live with their birth parents. Aspiranet provides foster care and adoption services at 11 community-based sites statewide, connecting children with families who can provide a safe, stable and loving home environment.  The Little-Villelas completed their foster family training with Aspiranet in 2012.

Children come into the foster care system for multiple reasons, none of which are their fault. Aspiranet specializes in foster care and adoption. Once placement occurs, foster parents receive comprehensive training, in-depth educational programs, one-on-one counseling and ongoing 24/7 support and guidance. Working in partnership with families, Aspiranet's mission is to reunite children with their birth parents if and when they can return home safely. And thanks to the flexibility of families like the Little-Villelas, Aspiranet can help children who need short-term care or lifelong homes.

"We have fostered 12 children, in addition to raising our biological and adopted children. Taking in a child, loving them and giving them the opportunity to become successful is the most rewarding thing you can do in your life," said Lisa.  "If you love children, you're capable of making a difference," Lisa expressed, adding that Aspiranet has been very supportive and helpful in providing resources. Lisa's advice for families who are considering fostering is they should be "patient, open to services, resources and finding what will be the best for each child… and if our message gets one family to take action, that would feel great."

"We work with families like the Little-Villelas, surrounding them with support services so they can be successful in providing a caring, nurturing haven for children and youth in need," said Diane Warne, Aspiranet Foster and Adoptive Families Division Director. "We are here to support our children and families every step of the way."

About Aspiranet

Aspiranet is a 501(c) (3), California nonprofit organization with the mission of providing children, youth, and families with a foundation of support and services so they can succeed at home, at school, and in their communities. Aspiranet provides a comprehensive suite of services including foster family support, adoption through foster care, support for foster youth transitioning to adulthood, mental health services, residential care, intensive home-based care, and community-based family resources. For more than 40 years, Aspiranet has impacted more than 35,000 children, youth and parents at 33 community-based sites statewide. For more information, visit www.aspiranet.org.