I recently had the opportunity to meet with Nathan and Joy, a local Utah foster family. They have been fostering for just over a year and have 2 beautiful kids in their care, leading towards adoption. Nathan and Joy have been a part of the Care Community pilot program. Their local church congregation has wrapped around their family in tangible support and emotional love. Merilee, a member of the Care Team, shared this beautiful insight with me.
We would be doing this anyways, we love them!! But being part of the Care Community Program has given us structure as well as a way for Nathan and Joy to ask for help.
– Merilee, Care Team Member
How beautiful is that? We all need support at different times in our lives, but the hardest part is asking for it. The Care Team has served this foster family by delivering meals, babysitting, being a listening ear, taking the kids out on dates, and more. One of my favorite stories comes from Joy herself.
Nathan and Joy had recently gotten a puppy when their 2 current kids came into their care. The oldest child regressed in potty training, as is very common during a traumatic time, and it was required for her to be potty trained to attend daycare. Nathan and Joy were a bit overwhelmed to say the least. When Joy expressed her current dilemma to her Care Team they immediately stepped up! Her Care Team popped over to the house and took the puppy for the weekend. This way Nathan and Joy could put all their energy towards potty training their new child in care.
Joy told me how grateful she was for this community showing up for them in their hour of need. Their new child in care became fully potty trained again and started daycare that following week, allowing Nathan and Joy to return to work without missing a beat. The extra hands and support from this foster family’s Care Community made a massive difference in their lives that weekend.
Being a foster family is not the easiest task. Foster families do not know when kids will arrive, what their needs will be, or even how long these kids will be with them. When foster families have support from friends, families, or a specific Care Community, it makes all the difference in the foster family’s lives and the children they care for.
To all of those who are foster families or are giving a helping hand, thank you! Our community is a better place because of you!
