Having moved from 'house to house and family to family' and carrying his meager belongings in trash bags, young Malik has come to believe that he's really a throw away kid. When he comes to live with Momma J, he begins to feel that he has finally found a permanent family of his own and will never be thrown away again. When Malik learns that he must leave Momma J's home to be adopted he becomes so angry and so hurt that Momma J must find a unique way to convince him of her love and his place in her heart and family. "What's in Your Suitcase?" is the story of how Momma J graciously and lovingly finds a way to express her feelings and prepare him for his adoption. DOING AWAY WITH THE STIGMA OF THROW AWAY CHILDRENThe derogatory term "throw away children" refers to the common practice of dumping foster children's meager belongings into black trash bags when moving them from home to home. ABOUT THE AUTHOREducator and licensed foster parent for many years, G. P. Jordan understands how a placement move can seriously impact a young child. Jordan took a lot of foster children into her home over the past fifteen years. She has been a witness to a foster care system awash with children struggling with the pain, loss, and uncertainty of having to leave their foster homes for more permanent placements with adoptive families.Jordan experimented with ways of helping her foster children cope with their emotional struggles. Her unique form of storytelling proved to be, not only entertaining and informative, but a strong coping mechanism, as well. Jordan was determined that not one child would be demeaned by having to leave her home carrying their things in plastic bags. She presented each child with their own brand new suitcases and one of her touching, relevant stories to take with them. She wanted to impress upon them that they were not "throw away kids" and that the suitcase was full of mementos of loving experiences that they could cherish and rely on as they entered a new stable and secure relationship.
