The Right Time for Family

Kyle and Kristin started becoming verified as foster and adoptive parents during the COVID-19 pandemic but needed to hold off once they found out they were expecting their second child. About a year and a half later, Kyle met Malachi, a patient on the hospital floor where he was a nurse. As he neared discharge, Kyle learned he could not go home, and CPS was looking for a foster family. The little boy had captured Kyle’s heart. Since he and Kristin were already working on it, fostering Malachi seemed the perfect fit.

Kyle and Kristin were not foster parents yet and could not complete the process in time, but the state recognized the connection between Kyle and Malachi. In Texas, Judges can approve a fictive (non-relative) kinship placement when a child and a caregiver have a relationship.

When Malachi left the hospital, he went to live with Kyle and Kristin and their two sons. His connection with Kyle made the transition easier, and he thrived in a safe and loving family.

They had a lot on their plate as they completed the verification steps for foster care but said PCHAS “provided a level of training other agencies didn’t offer. The requirements weren’t there just to get you licensed, but to really prepare you to become foster parents.” Once approved, the kinship placement transitioned to foster care, which provided Malachi and the family with even more resources and support.

The PCHAS Foster Care & Adoption team helped Kristin and Kyle as they navigated the complex system and parented a child with health challenges. Malachi is also of a different race than Kyle and Kristin, so they wanted to support and love him to the best of their ability. They reached out to friends and family to learn more about hair and skin care, read children’s books about representation, were intentional about growing relationships to offer Malachi positive models and connected with Program Director Bliss Williams about navigating transracial parenting. 

The couple says it has been rewarding to watch Malachi grow and to see him bond with the family and look to them for comfort. They enjoy seeing the boys love each other and play together, too. It’s not all been easy, but they cling to the belief that “Just because something is hard, doesn’t mean it is not right.”

Kyle and Kristin are a testament to the transformative power of love. The family adopted Malachi, and now they have three sons getting to grow up together as a family. Their story reminds us that love and commitment are the foundation of family, not just blood.

If you're a kinship family, Connect With Us to learn more. Not a kinship family? We want to hear from you, too. Call or text 281-324-0544 or email fosteradopt@pchas.org for more information.