Meet Jennifer & Beth Cayson, whose hearts know no limits! With 7 children in their home—four adopted and three foster children—they’ve created a loving, stable, and nurturing environment for kids of all backgrounds and needs. And when asked if they could take in another child? Their answer was "YES!"
Fostering is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have, but it’s also a journey that requires patience, commitment, and an open heart. If you’re considering becoming a foster parent, here are a few key pieces of advice that we’ve learned along the way:
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.
Parker’s journey as a foster parent has been one of love, mentorship, and lasting impact. She not only fostered but co-parented and mentored the biological parents of her foster daughter—remaining a part of their lives even after reunification.
Meet Eli and Bradley Sandoval, a newly licensed foster family making an incredible difference! Their first foster placement has been nothing short of amazing, and now they’re on the path to adoption for 11-year-old J, a resilient young boy who has finally found the love and stability he deserves. From day one, Eli and Bradley have been unwavering in their dedication—advocating for J's education, ensuring he receives the services he needs, and most importantly, creating a safe and nurturing home where he can heal and thrive.
It's Foster Family Appreciation Week! This week, we celebrate the incredible individuals who open their hearts and homes to children in need. Today, we’re highlighting the remarkable Ms. Myles, a recently licensed foster caregiver whose dedication and love for children is truly inspiring.
At Heartland for Children, we are committed to celebrating and supporting our foster families, not just this week but every day. Their kindness, patience, and love truly make a difference in the lives of children and youth in our community
My wife, Joy-Lynn and I became Foster Parent Mentors (FPM) through Heartland for Children in 2012. When we were approached with the opportunity to be an added support for incoming Foster Parents, we jumped at the opportunity because we saw the value in having someone who other Foster Parents could relate to as being an invaluable resource; especially, if the individual(s) were completely new to the fostering and/or parenting experience.
As FPMs through Heartland, we've had the chance to interact with incoming Foster Parents on many levels including assisting with respite, providing guidance or best practices with difficult behavioral issues, advocating for a child who had to be moved from one home to another, making recommendations on working with case management, providing another vantage point through the process of Termination of Parental Rights (TPR), and many other areas that Foster Parents can encounter during their first and continuing years of child advocates.
What we've gained as FPMs is a heightened level of understanding of how important it is to identify the needs of incoming Foster Parents. Being able to make recommendations on how the training component has and can continue to successfully equip incoming parents with the proper training and education; is a value add that Heartland has really welcomed input on.
Cebien Alty - HFC Foster Parent, Foster Parent Mentor