Focus on Family: Rewards of Foster Care Discovered by Two Foster Parents
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The rewards of foster care are well worth the challenges.
Melissa Haller and Jason Streichert have been licensed foster parents with OhioGuidestone for six years, during which time they have opened their hearts and home to six children in need. Their journey into foster care began after Melissa met Liam, a child on her caseload at Help Me Grow. Through her work, she developed a close bond with Liam’s foster parents. When they realized they could not provide a permanent home for him, the county worker approached Melissa to see if she would be interested in adopting Liam.
Motivated by the desire to offer a loving and stable home, Melissa and Jason decided to pursue fostering. They became licensed as medically fragile foster parents through OhioGuidestone. Since then, their family has grown, and they have successfully adopted two children.
Through their commitment to fostering and adoption, Melissa and Jason have created a loving and dynamic family, offering children the chance to grow up in a caring and supportive environment.
The Challenges and Rewards of Foster Care
Melissa and Jason can attest to the rewards of foster care. The most blessed part of their foster care journey has been the four children who have permanently joined their family. They are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to help others and provide a loving, stable home to children in need. Through fostering, they’ve been able to make a lasting impact on the lives of children who needed it most.
Despite the challenges, including navigating difficult cases and dealing with the complexities of red tape, Melissa and Jason continue their foster care journey with unwavering dedication. “I am a sucker,” Jason laughs, acknowledging that, despite the hardships, they continue to foster because they love seeing children thrive. They also enjoy the connections they’ve made, both with other foster families and within their community. Watching their own family grow and seeing the families of the children they foster flourish has been incredibly fulfilling.
Over the years, Melissa and Jason have also been active advocates for foster care. They have referred four families to OhioGuidestone to become licensed foster parents, further expanding the circle of support for children in need.
When it comes to advice for new foster parents, Jason suggests embracing every day, understanding that some days will be great, while others will feel much more challenging. Even during the tough times, he encourages new parents to enjoy the process, as it’s all part of the journey.
Melissa, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of documentation. She advises new foster parents to keep detailed records not only for their own benefit but also for the county and biological families involved. Documenting everything, she says, is crucial to staying organized and ensuring that the needs of the children are always met.
As a couple, Melissa and Jason feel that fostering has made them stronger. They reflect on how far they’ve come as foster parents, and the challenges they’ve faced and overcome together. Most of all, they are proud of their ability to adapt quickly and learn new things, making each day a new opportunity to grow and improve.
For now, Melissa and Jason are eagerly looking forward to finalizing the adoption of the two boys currently in their home. Their family continues to grow, with three biological boys, two adopted boys, and two more boys in the process of adoption. And, in exciting news, they are thrilled to announce that the baby on the way will be a girl, adding another beautiful chapter to their story.
At OhioGuidestone, we believe every child deserves to be happy and safe–whether an infant or a teenager, children need a sense of belonging to a family. When those needs can not be met, OhioGuidestone’s Foster Care Services can provide temporary or permanent caregivers and guardians for children in need.
If you are interested in learning more about the rewards of foster care, please complete an inquiry to start the process!
Since 1985, OhioGuidestone has been successfully providing foster care services across Ohio. We are one of the largest providers of foster care services and collaborate with children’s services agencies in individual counties to identify foster homes for children in need of a safe, nurturing place to live.
We place medically fragile children, children with therapeutic needs, teens, teens who are parenting, and sibling groups.