Fostering to Adoption in Ohio: Kate’s Story
Kate Wehnes and her family began their journey from fostering to adoption in Ohio right after Kate graduated college. She went through the training and in 2012 the family began fostering. At first, the family only participated in respite care. That means that they never really had a long-term placement. They only took care of foster kids for a few days while foster parents went out of town or needed to pause their care.
A foster parent is trained to try to push for reunification between the children and parents if it is a valid option. And for the most part, the kids that Kate and her family cared for always had family members that could care for them. But in 2017 they received a placement of 3 children that did not have anyone that could take them in.
The Children Fit Perfectly
The Wehnes family happily took in the three children. However, both Kate and her husband wanted to take the fostering to adoption process slowly because the decision would change their lives. Regardless, the three kids fit in perfectly with their family. Kate watched as the bond between the children grew every day. By late November of 2019, the family finally adopted the three children to complete their family.
Becoming a foster parent also allows foster parents to grow and learn with the experience. Not every situation is the same therefore each new placement gives the opportunity to learn through different perspectives. Although, Kate does admit to liking more structured environments like knowing when her placements would come
A huge lesson that Kate learned throughout the process was that every kid has the potential to be great. More people should foster so that more kids in the system are given the right resources and attention to grow up and make a difference.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, we appreciate Kate for sharing her fostering to adoption in Ohio story with us. For those who are in the process of fostering to adoption, Foster Love – Together We Rise offers free adoption day photography through our Framing Forever program. Click HERE for more information!
