May is National Foster Care Month. There are almost 15,000 foster care children in North Carolina who need a home. Easterseals PORT Health’s Child Placement team helps place more than 270 foster children in loving homes each year. We also train and support foster parents and families to help facilitate the best out-of-home care for foster children of all ages.
Top Row: Eugene, Courtney
Bottom Row: Amanda, Ida
We cannot do this work without great foster parents who are willing to open their home to a child who has experienced trauma. This month, it’s our pleasure to highlight four of our incredible foster care parents: Eugene, Courtney, Amanda and Ida.
Eugene’s Journey
“The best part of being a foster parent is offering a safe, stable and supportive home to a child. Young people need more than just a roof over their heads. They need structure, accountability, compassion and someone who will show up for them every day. Being that steady presence to help teens build confidence, trust, discipline and hope for their future is one of the most meaningful aspects of this journey,” says Eugene.
“I’ve served as a foster parent for more than nine years and I take the responsibility of fostering very seriously. It requires strength, patience, consistency and compassion. I’ve been fostering with Easterseals PORT Health for almost six months and it’s been great. They provide guidance, encouragement and valuable resources to help navigate the challenges and responsibilities of being a foster parent. Having a dedicated team that communicates clearly, trains and provides support when needed makes a real difference. Their partnership has helped me remain equipped, encouraged and ready to give my foster child the care, structure and stability they deserve.”
Courtney’s Journey
“The best part about fostering is seeing the children thrive! It’s rewarding to watch them transform from feeling fear and anxiety to gaining confidence and assurance. It’s incredible to help them navigate their feelings of rejection and unworthiness to self-acceptance and belonging,” says Courtney. “I’ve been fostering with Easterseals PORT Health for about six months now. The team is there whenever we need help and consistently checks in. It’s important to recognize National Foster Care Month because we definitely need more foster parents! I strongly encourage potential parents to experience the joy and impact they can have on a child’s life by fostering a child in need.”
Amanda’s Journey
“The best part of being a foster parent is witnessing real change. Watching my foster placements transform from struggling and feeling unsafe to growing into who they are meant to be is an experience like no other,” shares Amanda. “Foster parenting is never a journey meant to be taken alone and I am incredibly grateful for the support of Easterseals PORT Health along the way. They equip us with the training and tools we need to better understand and care for the children placed in our homes, especially when facing the challenges that come with trauma and transition. In overwhelming moments, we always have support and there’s always someone there to guide us. Recognizing National Foster Parent Month is essential because it honors the difference foster parents make, often in quiet and unseen ways, that can have a lasting impact on a child’s life for years to come.”
Ida’s Journey
“Fostering is not just something I do, it is something I deeply believe in. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a foster parent is witnessing the growth in a child from the moment they enter my home to the moment they leave,” shares Ida. “Being able to nurture that potential and watch it unfold is incredibly powerful. I also love the lasting relationships with the children. Many of the children I have fostered, continue to reach out and stay connected by showing me love, appreciation, gratitude and keeping me updated with their adult lives.”
“One of my most memorable experiences involves a young boy who once lived in my home. Today, he is a grown and successful man. He graduated from high school, went on to earn a college degree and even invited me to attend his college graduation because he wanted me to be part of such an important milestone in his life. He is now thriving in his career as a computer analyst. Moments like that are what foster parenting is all about, planting seeds that grow far beyond your home. In addition, another meaningful moment in my foster parent journey came in 2020, when I officially adopted a child, I had been fostering since 2015!”
Thank you to Eugene, Amanda, Courtney, Ida and all our foster parents for stepping up! Together, we can work towards increasing the number of loving homes available for children in foster care. If you’re interested in helping to change a child’s life forever, learn more at eastersealsPORT.com/foster-care.
ABOUT US
Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing exceptional disability, mental health and substance use services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Purpose, dedication and empathy drive our in-person and telehealth service delivery. Our diverse and inclusive 2,600 member team provides more than 10.2 million hours of meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com.
