Like many who have biological children and are considering becoming foster parents, Ellynn felt excited but uncertain. She didn’t know how it would impact her daughter or how other family members would react.
Finding the Right Fit to Grow Their Family
Ellynn had always envisioned a big family and a house full of joyful chaos. Her grandma had six children, and one of her aunts had fostered children with disabilities.
Despite reservations, she and her husband, Bradford, researched to see if this was the proper fit to grow their family. Ellynn found countless Facebook pages dedicated to fostering. The more she talked to people on these pages, the more she realized they should give it a try.
The couple felt ready to set their uncertainty aside and contacted Catholic Charities to learn about the Foster Care and Adoption program. After successfully completing the process and training, they received their license in November 2019.
The Reward of Seeing Children Thrive
They received their first placement, Nathan, the day they got their license. Although he was over a year old, Nathan was still on formula, and Ellynn didn’t know what kind. She fed him oatmeal, which he ate three bowls of.
It was difficult to get Nathan accustomed to his new life. Ellynn focused on comforting Nathan as he adjusted to life in their family.
Eventually, Nathan was adopted, and his transformation has been incredible. Although he’s still quiet around adults, Ellynn enjoys seeing him come out of his shell around other kids. He’s extremely smart and excels at reading and math.
Foster Parents Deserve Support
Both Ellynn and Bradford have received caring support from their licensing workers. Rebecca, their first licensing worker, does foster care herself and has adopted through fostering. Ellynn feels she can relate strongly to Rebecca, who also comes from a Hispanic background.
Their second licensing worker, Rachel, has been amazing as well. She’s always willing to lend an ear and be part of that village.
“We never questioned our [licensing] agency. I'll support them in every way I can just because they've done that for us,” says Ellynn.
Fostering Involves the Whole Family
Since 2019, they’ve had almost a dozen placements and are now a family of five. Ellynn and Bradford have always kept their biological daughter, Emarie, involved in the process. For a while, they only fostered boys because Amadi wanted to be the only girl.
Emarie, now 15 years old, loves being a big sister. She also has a way of deeply connecting with their placements and knowing what they need.
Advice for Potential Foster Parents
For those considering fostering, Ellynn encourages them to try it. She says there is so much support out there.
“Ask those questions even if they seem like they're weird or awkward. Maybe that one little answer from someone is what you need to push through,” Ellynn adds.
If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent, visit the Foster Care and Adoption page to learn more.
