Benjamin & Stephanie Discovered Their Shared Calling

A dream God places in your heart is hard to ignore. It’s incredible to have a vision for the future and empowering to sense God’s guidance. It’s even more exciting if it’s a calling shared by someone you love. That's what happened to Benjamin and Stephanie. "We heard a calling from God that this was something placed on our hearts," Stephanie shared. When Stephanie approached Benjamin about exploring foster care, she discovered that he'd been thinking the same thing. "It was a total God thing," they said.

They knew that choosing the right agency was important, so Stephanie researched agencies, spoke with friends who foster, and watched numerous YouTube videos and podcasts. They sought a faith-based partner, and PCHAS stood out due to the passion and mission they experienced during the Foster Care & Adoption Online Info Session.

Training That Changed Everything

Prospective Foster and Adoptive families work with PCHAS to complete a thorough verification process, including pre-service training, background checks, documentation, and home study assessment. Stephanie and Benjamin took the process seriously and focused on preparing their family, rather than just completing the requirements.

They met with PCHAS staff members Bliss and Hannah early in the process to discuss their goals and readiness for fostering. The pair gave Benjamin and Stephanie the green light to proceed and a “clear roadmap” of the process. "Stephanie loves checklists and likes to understand what's expected," Benjamin noted. Having clear steps made the process feel manageable.

The Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) classes made the most significant impact. As a doctor, Stephanie loved learning how to care for children who've experienced trauma. They started using the TBRI Principles with their biological daughter right away and saw great results. The training also taught them self-care strategies to prevent burnout—wisdom that helps beyond foster care.

The training also revealed an important truth: “Fostering is a team sport." This journey affects the whole family, so everyone must be on board. They talked with their daughter about what it might be like to have foster siblings. Fostering would transition their daughter from an only child to a sibling, and they wanted to navigate this change wisely. They also included their extended family and friends. They asked them to pray and gave them space for questions and concerns. Stephanie and Benjamin believe this openness strengthened their family communication.

Was it Worth it?

Stephanie and Benjamin spent the better part of a year working to become verified. They invested in training, building relationships, and learning the ins and outs of foster care. Was it worth it? Undeniably, yes. They completed all the requirements to provide respite care (childcare lasting between 72 hours and 14 days) even before they finished the steps for verification as a foster family. They began helping other families, which not only provided support for others but also gave their family some much-needed real-life experience. Within two and a half weeks of verification, they welcomed a teen for foster care.

Ready to Transform Your Family?

The verification process for foster care isn’t just a list of pointless requirements and hoops to jump through. It’s an intentional process designed to prepare a family; one we hope to be transformative for every family. Benjamin and Stephanie's story shows how PCHAS's training didn’t just prepare them to foster—it transformed their parenting altogether. Their testimony shows that when God guides, He will also provide.

Have you felt a prompting to serve kids through foster care and adoption? Take the next step to learn more about kids in foster care and how you can help. PCHAS offers regular Online Info Sessions that are an excellent place to start, just like Benjamin and Stephanie. Find upcoming sessions at pchas.org/fosteradoptevents or text "Get Started" to 281-324-0544.