Ron Bertsch

Previously published March 2016

Josh is one of the young people served at DCCH Center for Children & Families, Foster Care Program, Ft. Mitchell. He is another victim of the heroin epidemic. His mom overdosed. His dad was given custody but was later sentenced to prison for heroin charges.

At 5, Josh entered foster care. He had witnessed domestic violence, was moved from place to place, felt the pain of physical abuse and suffered unimaginable neglect. Yet he survived! Josh learned to trust in a new foster family. They fed him, clothed him, gave him drink when he was thirsty. They sheltered him, nursed him when sick. They comforted him, counseled, instructed and admonished him when wrong. They patiently forgave him when he was angry and yelled and hit them. Do you recognize the mercies showered upon him?

When the court terminated his parent’s rights, Josh found a forever family. A wonderful couple committed to adopting Josh, continued to show him the same mercies. They wanted to become a mom and dad to a child just like Josh. The loss of one family becomes the gain of another. Yet this couple did not wish such hardship or addiction, such pain and suffering on Josh or his parents. They tell him they wish could have prevented such things. They pray now with him for the salvation and safety of his mom and dad, for his big sister and his dog that he once loved.

By the end of 2015, DCCH had statistics showing 72% of their foster children’s parents were addicted to heroin or died from the drug. In the last few years, referrals for children entering foster care had risen over 1000%, from an average of 30 children a month to over 300. Heroin is an ugly drug, it shows no favoritism, it does not discriminate. It affects men, women and youth with a grip that professionals have not seen before. Heroin attacks the rich, the poor, those in the city, suburb and the country, a person of any race or religion.

NKY Hates Heroin founder, Holly Specht spoke at the DCCH foster parent support group meeting last month. She was asked to share her personal story of how her son lost his life to an accidental overdose of heroin. She was asked to share what she, her husband, family and friends are doing to combat this epidemic. Prevention, education and reducing the stigma of heroin is the mission of NKY Hates Heroin. Holly helped us put a human face to a heroin addict. She helped us realize that addicts have a mom and dad, family and friends. She helped us see the other side of this epidemic, not just the harm caused to the children.

This was important because some might not understand the whole problem. I had someone say, “I’m not going to be a babysitter for some damn drug addict” or “why don’t they just overdose, die and free the child”. Maybe fear or ignorance was the cause for this lack of empathy. To help the child, we must become merciful to everyone.

I don’t have all the answers or know how to cure heroin addiction, but I believe Pope Francis in declaring the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy is offering our world what God wants of us. God’s Mercy is the answer to the sorrow, confusion, and despair of so many who are searching! Can we seek and accept God’s mercy and can we offer it to others?

During Lent, St. Therese Parish in Southgate, freely handed out a book assembled by Matthew Kelly, entitled Beautiful Mercy. I’ve been reading it and have been impressed with the reflections, stories and examples of the many ways we can perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Foster and adoptive parents need not look too far. They have the opportunity to perform these works of mercy right from their own home with the children placed with them and the parents and relatives of the child. I recommend Beautiful Mercy from DynamicCatholic.com. It serves as a great inspiration and guide for us to become more Christ-like and opens us to receive and show God’s infinite mercy.

Love has no bounds, cannot be taken to an extreme. Let us love, seek and give mercy. If interested in performing the works of mercy while serving God’s children through fostering or adoption, please call DCCH to learn more at (859) 331-2040 or DCCHCenter.org.