Welcome to Starfish Foster Home
As most Starfish Followers know, 2012 and 2013 have been transitional years for our Home. For most recent updates, please click on the NEWSLETTER link to the right.
At the Starfish Foster Home (Starfish) our mission is clear: To provide orphans with special health needs the medical care required to not only survive, but to have a chance at living a full and rewarding life. Since 2005, Starfish has partnered with both local and provincial government officials to ensure that our services are made available to as many eligible children as possible. As a result of this productive relationship, Starfish is viewed as a “mission critical” provider of human services to the local community. Our singular success metric is the number of lives saved. To date, Starfish has rescued 169 children, facilitated 250+ surgeries and 86 of our kids have been adopted.
On average, we have 25-40 children from local orphanages are under our guardianship at any one time. The medical/health issues include, but are not limited to, spina bifida, cleft lip/palate and cardiovascular issues. In addition to the life-saving surgeries we faciliate for each child, all of our children have access to well- baby care, vaccinations/immunizations, a regimented nutritional plan, etc. All of our efforts are pointed to placing each child into the Chinese adoption process and to someday become part of a loving “Forever Family”.
All of the care and services are provided at our foster home in Xi’an, China. The children live here and are with us until the day they are adopted. Naomi Kerwin is the Executive Director and she is responsible for the “24/7” operations of the foster home. Naomi manages a staff of 18-22 full time nannies and is supported by several experienced assistants. Volunteers play a critical role in the ongoing success of our mission. We do have an ongoing need for long term volunteers (30+ days) as well as those experienced in pediatrics and nursing. If this is of interest please visit the “You Can Help” and “Volunteering” pages on our website.
Our efforts are supported by the generous donations of individuals and several corporate foundations. The board of directors is 100% volunteer staffed with all directors encouraged to make annual cash donations and/or gifts-in-kind.
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