Place to Call Home: Three Little Words author
Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s life changed when she was adopted by a loving family at the age of 12. Today she’s an adoptive parent with a best selling memoir.
WUNC: Life After Foster Care
By ANITA RAO & FRANK STASIO • APR 27, 2016
More than 400,000 children in the United States are living in foster care. The statistics about what happens to these children later in life are startling: only about 50 percent finish high school, less than 10 percent go on to higher education. Ashley Rhodes-Courter is an exception to this statistic, but she has devoted her life’s work to speaking out on behalf of her many former foster care siblings who continue to struggle.
Host Frank Stasio talks with Rhodes-Courter, author of “Three Little Words” (Simon Pulse/2008) and “Three More Words,”(Atheneum/2015) about her 10 years in foster care and her work as social worker and advocate. She will be speaking at fundraising events for the Children’s Home Society on Thursday, April 28 in Greensboro, Thursday, May 5 in Raleigh, and Thursday, May 12 in Charlotte.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter Speaks at Cazenovia College
Location:
McDonald Lecture Hall, Eckel Hall
MSU’s 2016 Maroon Edition book focuses on finding, embracing the power of one’s voice
STARKVILLE, Miss.— The inspirational story of a woman overcoming her troublesome early years in foster care is Mississippi State’s 2016 Maroon Edition book selection.
Published in 2008 by Simon and Schuster, international bestselling author Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s “Three Little Words: A Memoir” grew out of her award-winning essay that was published in 2003 by New York Times Magazine. Continue reading
Foster Focus Magazine: Babies Don’t Belong Under the Christmas Tree: An Open Letter from an Adult Adoptee
In what they described as “one of the most magical experiences,” a Texas family posted a video on social media of their three daughters seeing their new baby brother for the first time. Captions accompanying the viral announcement included: “Sisters find newly-adopted baby brother under the tree,” “Parents hide new son under the Christmas tree for daughters,” and “Sisters’ adoption surprise!”
The children and family seem thrilled, but as an adult adoptee, adoptive mother, and social worker, I cringed and wished this family had been given better counsel. Not wanting to be hasty or “overly sensitive,” I asked professional peers and child advocates for their opinion. Most agreed that this video sends a variety of disturbing message to those not familiar with the intricacies of adoption. It was also the general consensus that surprising family members with a human being is not advised under any circumstance. Continue reading
Takepart: How One Best-Selling Author Is Changing the Holidays for Foster Kids
When it comes to childhood holiday traditions, people often think of hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree, lighting the menorah, or listening to seasonal tunes. But for some 415,000 kids living in our foster care system, the holidays in group homes aren’t always filled with merriment. Continue reading
REINVENTING FOSTER CHILDREN
rom foster kid to foster parent. Her memoir, Three Little Words became a NYT bestseller when Ashley was 22. It is currently being made into a major motion picture. Her new book, Three More Words was just released and debuted as a #1 Bestseller on Amazon.
Ashley is young, energetic, and inspiring. She overcame a childhood of abuse and neglect and beat all odds to become an outstanding advocate and voice for children.
Her stories are shocking, compelling, and motivating. Tune in to hear about her journey. She is simply amazing!
An Interview with Ashley Rhodes Courter
Shorecrest’s Guardian ad Litem service club sits down with Ashley Rhodes-Courter before her talk at the school. Each year, Shorecrest Preparatory School collects gifts and necessities for children in the Guardian ad Litem program for the holidays…
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