Too many times, we hear about negative things that happen in foster care, but there are many true stories of foster children who have been helped. Here are several stories of both parents and children that are sure to inspire you.

Eric & Jaci Hasemeyer

The Hasemeyer family led a fairly normal life until one day, when Jaci encountered a fifth-grade boy who refused a free ticket to the skating rink because there would be no one to take him. Eric and Jaci had three kids at the time, but they decided to become a solution for kids like this young boy. They signed up to become foster parents and hosted over 30 children in their home throughout the years. They ended up adopting 9 of those children.

Several of Eric and Jaci’s friends were so inspired that they also decided to become foster parents and the Hasemeyers found themselves forming a support group for foster and adoptive families. This grew as well, and eventually, Eric quit his stockbroker job and went to school for a masters in counseling so they could help more families. After graduation, he started a center for this purpose. To raise awareness on behalf of foster children, the Hasemeyers’ oldest daughter, Krista, started a Walk Your Talk event. Within three years, the event garnered the support of 1,000 people and $30,000 and was adopted by churches throughout their area.

Zachary

Zachary was 13 when his biological parents had their parental rights terminated. But Zachary had no forever family as a replacement. An extreme recruiter called Amanda was given the task of finding Zachary’s relatives. She was only given information about two relatives on Zachary’s mother’s side. Amanda went to work, combing social media and making countless phone calls. Inside of three weeks, she found 60 relatives. Most of Zachary’s family members had been unaware of his situation and were eager to help him find a home, particularly his aunt, Michelle. Michelle lived in another state, which made things more complicated. But her dedication to bringing Zachary to live with her Zachary was solid. She took the required parenting courses and filed all the paperwork to adopt Zachary. Within months, Zachary was in her home and the two of them have been very happy together.

Ashley Rivera

Ashley, a teen in New York City, has had a great experience with her foster parents of four years. She writes, “I have the most amazing foster parents in the world,” and “My foster mother is a role model. I wish everyone’s foster parents could be like her.” Ashley joined Sonya and her husband’s home when she was not quite in her teens. Ashley gets treated just like a biological child. She’s rewarded when she does well and corrected when she does something wrong. Her foster parents are open to talk about anything and bring just the kind of insight and fun that good parents are so good at doing. Ashley wanted to write her blog to show both foster parents and foster kids that good foster relationships are possible.

Sometimes, we just need to hear the stories of children who have had their lives changed for the better through foster care. There is always a need for good foster parents. If you’re considering it, call Children First to get started.