For Connie Going, nine words, she’ll tell you, ring true.
“You don’t know what you don’t know about adoption,” Going said. She’s out to change that.
A 25-year veteran of the child welfare system, Going is the founder of The Adoption Advocate Center based in St. Petersburg.
“A place where we can support adoptive families and children where they can find their resources,” Going said.
Going also works online as an advocate to help potential and current adoptive families deal with the myriad of challenges they can face. She has had contact with local families as well as those in other parts of the U.S. and other countries.
Her motive is simple and to the point.
“Children deserve a home. They can’t sit and languish in foster care. It’s not fair to them," Going said. "There’s 1,000 children at any given time that are waiting for a family."
She also hosts a weekly podcast called ‘Like It Is’.
As busy as she is, it came as a surprise to many -- including Connie. who was already a mom to two daughters -- when she decided to adopt.
Sixteen-year-old Taylor joined the family about four year ago.
“It’s going great. We have our ups and downs, but it’s just like every other family,” Taylor said.
Then came 18-year-old Davion. He and Taylor had been best friends in a group home years past. Now they are brothers in their own home.
“I have a support system now, and I feel like I can do anything in life now because I have a family,” Davion said.
Connie Going is well named.
She has no plans to slow down as she keeps “going” to find homes for kids in need and to be there to support those homes.