Many interracial families use foster care as a way to grow. The decision to become a foster parent is an important one. You choose to become responsible for vulnerable foster youth and become a role model to those who might not have had a positive influence before. Kristina Brooks and her husband took on the responsibility and fostered for many years. After fostering a teenager and her daughter, the couple began talking about taking a pause on accepting placements.
Saying Yes
In October of 2017, while at work, Kristina received a call for a placement of a sibling group of 4. Despite the uncertainty she and her husband shared, she said yes to the placements. A few hours later she found herself picking up the siblings. Now she and her husband had the responsibility of taking care of a 17, 11, 8, and 3-year-old.
New Joy
Accepting the siblings sparked a newfound sense of joy in the couple. After being on the fence about continuing fostering they realized that they wanted to start a family. The family spent years together bonding and getting to know each other. They faced tough times having to go to countless court dates, but that only reinforced their desire to be a family.
Adopting Through the Pandemic
In 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, the court finally set their adoption date. On June 17 the family gathered in their living room for their virtual court date. The adoption hearing wasn’t what they imagined but they made do with what they had. In the middle of the hearing their signal gave out and everyone panicked. After scrambling to resolve the technical difficulties they continued the hearing. Finally, the Brooks family officially had 6 members!
The End Goal
It’s tough to know whether or not being a foster parent is for you. Kristina Brooks and her husband learned that first hand. But, if it weren’t for her patience and willingness to keep trying they wouldn’t have had the family they do today. Patience and perseverance are important traits in foster care. Most kids will need advocates that stick by them through thick and thin. The journey won’t always be easy but the end goal is worth all the struggles.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, we want to thank Kristina for sharing how interracial families use foster care to grow. The diversity of a family doesn’t define their love or potential.
For those in the process of adopting, check out our Framing Forever program. We give families adopting through foster care free adoption photos. Learn more here.
