Through Our Eyes: A Foster Family Shares Their Secret World

by William A. Hunter

Overview

In Through Our Eyes, William Hunter and some of the children he fostered share their experiences within these unique social welfare phenomena. The author took in children who suffered horrific abuse from their birth parents as well as during their journey through foster care. Hunter describes his personal struggle to salvage what humanity was left to these children and advocate against the immense bureaucracy of the state welfare and mental health systems.

After a dozen years, it all came crashing down around him. The stress caught up with him and took a toll on his emotional and physical health. The cases of these children touch the human heart and invoke anger against the worst segment of our society. Few people know the suffering these children endure after the sensationalism of their abuse fades to the back page. Their struggle to survive in the system remains heart wrenching.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761850670
Publisher:	Hamilton Books
Publication date:	04/12/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	257
Product dimensions:	6.11(w) x 9.22(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

William Hunter received a B.S. in political science from Rutgers University. Mr. Hunter has worked in the Aerospace Industry over the past three decades. After raising two children and at the age of forty, he took on the challenge of foster parenting in Arizona.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface: Origin of Foster Care
Chapter 2 Introduction: Unconditional Commitment
Chapter 3 Final Day
Chapter 4 Twelve Years Earlier
Chapter 5 Lined Up for the Slaughter
Chapter 6 Product of Substance Abuse
Chapter 7 My Little Knight
Chapter 8 Honeymoons are Deceiving
Chapter 9 The Lifeline
Chapter 10 Desks are for Security
Chapter 11 Dad is Earned
Chapter 12 Million Dollar Lawsuit
Chapter 13 The Birth of an IEP
Chapter 14 Return to Open Campus
Chapter 15 Locked Down
Chapter 16 Sanctuary
Chapter 17 Coming of Age
Chapter 18 Tragedy & Victory
Chapter 19 Life With a Nun
Chapter 20 Trauma is Forever
Chapter 21 Leaving the Cocoon
Chapter 22 Boot Camp
Chapter 23 First Love
Chapter 24 It's a Boy
Chapter 25 You are Loved
Chapter 26 Final Moments
Chapter 27 Farewell
Chapter 28 Closing Thoughts
Chapter 29 Epilogue

Editorial Reviews

Foster care is under greater public scrutiny as a growing number of children suffer abuse and neglect in the system. Mr. Hunter has written a profound book with tender compassion that addresses the physical and emotional dimensions of his twelve year journey fostering severely damaged children. The work is deeply felt in its descriptive accuracy of the daily struggles and complex family and social dynamics endured within the home, school, and community. Told by both parent and child with heartbreaking sincerity, this is a story that needs to be heard.

Kevin R. Wandler