We’d like to take a moment to thank all the social workers who work tirelessly for children in foster care. Your days are long and too often touched by heartbreak. But because of your dedication and concern, you help create joy and hope for the families you serve.
In honor of National Foster Care Month, here are some amazing foster care success stories. We hope you find them to be an inspirational and heartwarming reminder of why you work so hard for your children and families.
Editor’s note: this post was originally publish on May 23, 2013, but we like to refresh it every so often. Why? A couple of reasons:
First, we know that news stories tend to focus on the negative when it comes to things like foster care, adoption, and child welfare. However, we’ve had enough conversations with social workers to know that for every negative story shared, there’s an equally positive one that wasn’t (or that got far less attention). So, it’s our job to help share them.
Second, we know a little good news can always go a long way. Social workers are some of the most resourceful and resilient people in today’s world, and we’re so appreciative of your continued dedication to providing hope and support for those who fear everyone has given up on them.
Foster Mom’s Touching Video Tribute to Her Adopted Children
A mom details her story of adoption from foster care with a beautiful photo montage.
Idaho Mom Celebrates First Mother’s Day After Adopting Four Foster Siblings
Kate Wilson became a foster mom in 2018 with the goal of caring for children and creating healthier families. A couple of years later, she adopted four siblings who had been placed in her home over time and the new family recently celebrated an extra special Mother’s Day.
Foster Family Strives to Reunite Kids with Biological Families
The Knox Family has provided a temporary home for seven foster children, from 2 days old to 2 years old. While doing so, the Knox Family also works to help reunite the children with their biological families as soon as possible.
View the video | View more success stories from Aid to Adoption of Special Kids
“Mom on a Mission” Works with Foster Family to Get Her Kids Back
Jessica Lazier’s addiction to drugs led her down a path that resulted in losing her kids to the system. Lazier was left scared and alone, but used the opportunity to find herself, become a better mom, and ultimately get her kids back.
Two-Year-Old in Foster Care for 700 Days Gets Virtual Adoption Hearing Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
The Moody family in Florida had been fostering Isla since she was seven days old. The family worried Isla’s adoption would get delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting stay-at-home orders, but were able to adopt her through a virtual hearing on April 30. Community members decorated their cars and drove past with balloons and banners to celebrate.
Texas Teens Launch Campaign to “Adopt” Graduating Foster Teens
Only 45% of foster children graduate high school. Since those who do are usually aging out of the system, it makes their future scary and uncertain. Recognizing this, two teens in Texas are on a mission to make sure 500 foster teens graduating across the state this year feel loved and supported as they mark this milestone.
Foster Kid Turns Talents into Education on Foster Care
Former foster kid, Kayla Becker, is utilizing an internship with the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law to develop a video series to educate the public on the importance of permanency, safety and well-being for children within the foster system.
Read the full story | Read more success stories from Foster Care to Success
Changing Lives for Children Who Age Out of Foster Care
As a warden working in a Pennsylvania state prison, John Thomas saw first-hand what could happen to children who aged out of foster care. He and his wife, Jane, committed to rewriting the story by adopting four teens.
Olympic Gold Medalist Helps Other Foster Youth Achieve Their Goals
Famed Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles recognizes that she had more support, resources, and opportunity than many other children in foster care. Because of that, she believes it’s her duty to provide assistance to those most in need. Earlier this year, Simone launched a scholarship program to invest in children in foster care so they, too, can have the opportunity to succeed.
Iowa Couple Fosters 100 Babies
Deb and Mike Schuring lost two babies in the 1980s, both born on Mother’s Day a year apart. Now the couple has fostered their 100th child, because “one diaper, one midnight bottle feeding at a time, each baby is what matters.”
Northwoodian Reflects on Friends’ Foster Parenting Success
Thank you to Lisa Bailey—a social worker by trade, and former Foster Parent Trainer and Northwoodian—for sharing this final story! (Editor’s note: Names have been changed for confidentiality.)
“My friend, Tina, was a foster parent and had been one for 24 years. On Tina and her husband’s first date, they both revealed that they wanted children of their own, but that they also had a heart to help kids that were hurting. Around the same time, a 16-year-old girl, Sarah, went to her teacher to tell of the abuse and neglect that was going on day by day, month by month, and year by year at home—verbal and emotional abuse from her mother, and sexual abuse from her father. Sarah was placed at my friend Tina’s house, and Tina took Sarah in as her own. Sarah thrived! Sarah graduated from high school and applied to go to Wright State University where she completed her business degree. Sarah was the first in her family to graduate from college. What an achievement! It was so fun to watch her grab on to a healthier life and to succeed in her educational and personal life. We celebrated every step with her! Sarah is now married with a son, and her new family is all accepted as part of Tina’s family, too.”
National Foster Care Month
May is National Foster Care Month—a time to acknowledge the foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, Child Welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections. It is also a time to focus on ways that we can each play a part in creating a bright future for the more than 430,000 children and youth in foster care.
For more information on how you can help, please visit www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth today.
