Offering Hope and Stability to the Whole Family

Jesika and Kirk wanted to become foster parents for a long time. Jesika was adopted from foster care at the age of 10. The experience instilled in her a profound calling to someday foster and adopt. Kirk adopted prior to meeting Jesika, so it held a special place in his heart, too. In early 2020, their church advertised a PCHAS Foster Care & Adoption Info Meeting on Facebook. Without hesitation, they made the decision to attend.

During the meeting, Jesika met Travis Cutbirth, a PCHAS Foster Care & Adoption Guide, and Winell Fry, a PCHAS Home Development Supervisor. They quickly forged a connection. Following their hearts, they worked through all the steps and obtained their foster care license later that year. Two weeks later, they welcomed the first child. Since then, they’ve fostered a total of fifteen children, all of whom have left an indelible mark on Kirk and Jessica’s lives, and they adopted two of the children last year.

As foster parents, Jesika and Kirk intentionally cultivate relationships with the children and their birth families. Even after the children have returned home, they continue to check in and communicate, extending their support and influence to the birth parents. For them, fostering is not just about the time the children are in their home but about offering hope and stability to children and their parents for as long as possible.

Winell Fry was eager to share about the family. “Jesika and Kirk are successful foster parents because of their dedication. In training, they invested and actively participated. I could see the lightbulbs turning on in their heads as they learned about trauma and the needs of kids who have been through hard things. This set them up for long-term success and they have been able to use what they learned to really benefit kids.”

Jesika and Kirk credit their PCHAS case workers and home development staff for guiding them every step of the way. PCHAS has been a steadfast companion on their journey, always willing to listen and help, no matter how big or small the issues may seem. In PCHAS, they found guides, mediators and advocates who made it easier for them to foster with confidence.

PCHAS offers weekly Online Info Sessions for families interested in learning about Foster Care & Adoption in Texas. Sign up online or Connect with a Foster Care & Adoption Guide at 281-324-0544 or fosteradopt@pchas.org.