Posted: 2/14/2025
Foster Family Spotlight: Laurynn Vaughn
As Foster Family Appreciation Week comes to a close—on Valentine’s Day, no less—we want to highlight a remarkable foster parent whose love knows no bounds.
Laurynn Vaughn has opened her heart and home to many children, including sibling groups, ensuring they stay together rather than being separated in the foster system. Today, she is a devoted mother to seven children, four of whom are foster siblings. Her journey began with two siblings, but when the opportunity arose to keep two more together, she didn’t hesitate.
Her motivation? Deeply personal. “After being in foster care as a teenager and struggling with rejection, I had a heart for children going through what I’ve gone through,” Laurynn shares. “I was hesitant at first, but after becoming a Guardian ad Litem and seeing children being bounced around, I stepped up and adopted two in 2022. That moment changed everything, and I’ve been fostering ever since.”
Fostering is filled with challenges, but also moments of profound impact. For Laurynn, the most touching moments are when a child calls her “mommy” for the first time. “Some do it right away, others take months, but every single time, it stops me in my tracks. It’s an honor, especially coming from children who have been hurt before. Their trust is something I never take lightly.”
Her advice for those considering fostering? “Advice I'd share with others who might be considering fostering is this; if it were your son, daughter, niece, nephew, student, etc in need of a stable home, would there be anything to consider? Your decision to foster isn't just for a warm bed and a home for today. It has the potential to break generational cycles of abuse, drug addiction, poverty and the like. Your decision to foster impacts a child's mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. It is a decision that will impact a child, that will eventually grow into an adult and one day become a parent that mirrors into their own child what they learned from you. Fostering is love today and hope for tomorrow. Fostering is a decision to partner in changing the course of a child's life. You don't have to be perfect, you don't have to be rich, you just have to be willing."
Laurynn, your love and dedication are a testament to the true meaning of family. Thank you for being a light in the lives of so many children!
If you’ve ever thought about fostering, now is the time. Learn more at http://heartlandforchildren.org/foster or call 863-519-8900 x 289.