Sometimes, it's the small stuff that makes a big impact for foster youths.

A phone call, an encouraging note left on a bed, an outing to the zoo.

Or, as foster mother Wanda Harlan discovered, an Easter basket.

Harlan's foster daughter was 17 years old, but had never received an Easter basket until she came to live with the Turlock family.

Last year, Harlan's daughter phoned to tell her mom how much fun it was to wake up on Easter morning and find a basket filled with little treats.

"She said 'I make sure I think of you on Easter morning when my kids get an Easter basket,' " Harlan said, crying at the memory. "Things like that are so special."

Wanda and Jeff Harlan have fostered more than 40 teenagers over the past 22 years. The couple knew they wanted to be foster parents even before having their biological sons, as Jeff Harlan had grown up with foster sisters.

When their sons were ages 2 years and 8 months, respectively, the couple decided to open their home to teenagers because it seemed a better fit for them, and less likely to produce sibling rivalry, Wanda Harlan said.

They've never adopted their foster children, but for the Harlans, the legal maneuver isn't necessary.

"It doesn't matter if it's overnight or if they're here for 12 years, like my one daughter was. They are our kids and they know that will never change," Harlan said.

And there's a big need for more parents like the Harlans. Aspiranet, a private nonprofit providing foster care services throughout California, hopes to find more families willing to foster older children and teenagers.

The agency is hosting an open house Thursday for people interested in becoming foster parents.

As of September 2009, the latest period for which data have been compiled, more than 420,000 children were in foster care nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Almost a quarter of those children were living with relatives, while 48 percent were in foster family homes of nonrelatives.

There are currently about 58,000 children in foster care statewide.

In Sacramento County, 2,148 children are in the foster care system and more than half of them are in need of a permanent home, said Laura McCasland, spokeswoman for the county Department of Health and Human Services.

Older children and teenagers face the toughest time when it comes to finding a "forever family." It's difficult to find a home for a child between 8 and 11 years old. After that age, it's especially hard, said Antoinette Moran, Aspiranet's Sacramento program director.

"Most people come into foster care feeling a bit apprehensive about taking on children who are older," she said.

Perceptions of more challenges and issues to tackle can sway parents to opt for babies or young children, but it's just as critical that teenagers find loving homes.

"Then they're older, they want someone to show them that they care by providing boundaries and rules and guidelines for them to follow, because no one's cared enough to set those for them before," she said.

Teenagers want to find families who will love them just as much – if not more – than young children.

Being a foster parent to a teenager isn't always easy, but as Wanda Harlan said, "Think about how much harder it is to be a foster youth."

"We're adults. We can take some of that sadness, some of those struggles, and make it easier," said Harlan, who also works for Aspiranet as a parent partner, providing case management and support services to foster parents. "If you have the room and you have some time and patience, it's so needed. … Some of these kids have been in 30 homes or more. Just to have someone say 'You're here and you can stay here' is huge."

Donate air miles to kids

Speaking of helping children, did you know that American Airlines AAdvantage program members can donate their frequent-flier miles to children in need?

CBS television stations and American Airlines have launched ads featuring actress Kaley Cuoco, of "The Big Bang Theory," promoting the American Airlines Miles for Kids in Need program.

The program provides air travel for children with medical, educational and social services needs and their families, said Bernie Willett, director of cause marketing for American Airlines.

Last year, more than 80 million AAdvantage miles were donated, making air travel possible for nearly 300 children and their families.

A minimum donation of 1,000 miles is required. If your available balance is less than 1,000 miles, you may donate the entire balance.

To learn more, visit http://joinus.aa.com/kids.

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