Powerful article by Georgette Todd in the Chronicle for Social Change.
Davion Only, 16, the Florida orphan who made international headlines last year with his public plea for a forever family, has recently been kicked out of a home in Ohio that had planned to adopt him. According to reports, Davion got into a physical altercation with one of the children at the home and since then, he has been transferred back to Florida for treatment administered by the Tampa office of Eckerd Youth Alternatives. This latest setback for Davion is one of many that he’s had in foster care. His father’s whereabouts are unknown and his mother is deceased. Since Davion’s story has been made public, he has attracted over 10,000 inquiries.
Kevin Campbell (Seneca Center – National Center for Permanent Family Connectedness) wasn’t one of those 10,000, but felt compelled to help Davion. On his own time, he utilized his skills as a world-renowned family-finding expert and located 52 of Davion’s relatives. Here he talks about those findings and his hope for children like Davion. Family finding is not a letter that gets sent to a relative asking if you want to become a parent. Family finding is a process of an authentic and sustained partnership with the family and community to keep youth connected and loved during the crisis of their lives, foster and residential care.