Motivated
to give:
foster families tell us why they
do it
Serving as a foster family is
an incredible gift to the children who need a safe home in times of
trouble. It's also hard work, with its ups and downs. But the families who
participate in the LSS Treatment Foster Care program, and the families who
provide infant foster care for LSS Adoption say that, in one form or
another, they are motivated by the same thing. Some call it 'faith,'
others say it's a 'calling' or a 'mission.'
"I always thought that
fulfilling a mission meant that you were supposed to suffer," said Donna
Engels, who, with her husband Eric, is one of three families providing
care for infants who need temporary foster care during the adoption
process. "But someone once told me that 'Mission' is defined by your
greatest love meeting the world's greatest need," she said. "We absolutely
love it."
The Engels have provided
infant foster care for LSS Adoption for 13 years. This year Donna
and Eric have had seven placements. Each placement can last from a
few days to many months. In previous years, many more families performed
this kind of foster care, but the need has diminished, now that most
infants who are being adopted leave the hospital with their adoptive
parents. "My mother did foster care in the 1970s, and I've wanted to do
this since I was a little girl," Donna said.
More families are needed in
the LSS Treatment Foster Care program, which is designed to give more
support and training to foster families than traditional foster care
programs. The goals of LSS Treatment Foster Care are to work closely with
the foster family, the child in placement, and the family of origin to
resolve issues, and to return the child to his or her home and/or
community. LSS helps to develop support systems for the family, improve
relationships with the school, and assist the child in the least
restrictive manner possible.
The Hass family, who live near
Park Rapids, Minn., has been licensed to care for foster children since
1988, and had their first placement in 1990. Despite having three kids of
their own, they decided they wanted more kids, and foster care would be
the way to do it. They even adopted one of their foster daughters, who was
placed with them at two months of age. She is now 14.
"Foster care is a calling,"
said Kathy Hass. "When you bring children into your home and, at the very
least, provide a safe place while they are here, you give them the idea
that, yes, their lives can be different."
"I feel good knowing that I
was able to show some children a different way of life," said Dennis Hass.
"I like to see the kids who have left and are now successful, especially
when they seek us out."
"People tell me they could
never be a foster parent, that they could never have a child placed and
then have to say goodbye, but they can," Kathy said. "My heart has been
broken many times. You let your heart be broken because it's worth it."
Sue and Ron Visker, of Windom,
Minn., are also an LSS foster family. They also have three kids of their
own, but eight years ago, a neighbor who was a foster parent was hurt in
an accident, and then Sue and Ron decided to get licensed so they could
take in the 13-year-old boy their neighbor had been caring for.
"It was like the stork brought
this child to us," Sue said. "Foster parents need major support,
especially at the beginning. I had no training, and 'boom!', this child
was in my house."
After an initial two years
with another agency, the Viskers switched to LSS, and now feel they get
the support they need. "Our home-based worker, Caroline Lind, works with
us weekly," Sue said. "She's been at my disposal 24 hours-a- day, seven
days-a-week. It's a really good support system."
The first boy who was placed
with the Viskers had a twin sister who was also eventually placed with
them. That girl, who is now an adult, is like another daughter to them.
"It just has its ups and
downs, but every experience is good. These kids become part of your
family, part of your heart," she said. "Almost all the kids we had are in
contact with us to some extent after they leave. They know we care."
If you want to know more about
becoming a foster parent at LSS, call 1-888-881-8261, or visit our
Treatment Foster Care web site at
www.lssmn.org/foster
