As the community engagement manager for Georgia Kids Belong (GKB), Adriana Howard has dedicated much of her life to the welfare of underprivileged children in West Cobb. She is an adoptive parent herself and was recognized for her work in the community by Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month. We learned a little more about why she’s so passionate about making this process more approachable.
As a foster-turned-adoptive parent, what inspires you?
Adriana Howard: The deeper my husband and I got into the adoption world, the more we learned about the uncertainty of the foster system. With a 3-5 year waiting period for newborns and the substantially low likelihood of adoption facing older kids, siblings and kids with exceptional needs, we opened our search up to kids from those demographics. And we’re so glad we did! Our four kids are products of not only their biological family but also of the West Cobb caseworkers, foster parents, counselors, police officers, therapists, teachers and more who stepped in when our kids needed them.
How has West Cobb championed this cause?
AH: Acworth was actually Georgia’s first official Foster Friendly city, a title dubbed by Acworth Mayor Allegood, and currently boasts over 30 Foster Friendly businesses and faith communities and hosts foster care-related film screenings, recruitment events and celebrations.
What would you tell someone considering supporting foster care initiatives in their community?
AH: My advice would be to learn first and act second. Learn about your community’s specific needs, the effects of trauma and what happens to kids who age out of foster care without support and connections. Consider what you have to offer, and act on that. Everyone has something to offer this community. Find your something, because these families are worth it and these kids deserve to live in safe, loving homes that are prepared to support them while they heal, settle and thrive.
Where do you and your family spend your free time?
AH: You can catch us at the library every weekend! Whether it’s Mountain View or Switzer, you’ll see us returning a big stack of books and leaving with an even bigger stack.
