Go Ahead and Get Attached: One Family’s Foster Care Story

Some callings don’t go away — they just wait. 

For Kasey, the pull toward foster care started more than a decade before she and Chad ever opened their home. She shared her heart with Chad, but with young children at home, the timing wasn’t right. So they waited. They prayed. And when their kids got older, the feeling was still there — stronger than ever.

“It had been heavy on my heart for a long time,” Kasey said. “When the season was right, we knew it was time to move forward.”

That step of faith has shaped their family in ways they never could have predicted.

A Home Built on Stability and Love

Chad and Kasey’s home is a full and lively place — the kind where sports schedules and church routines anchor the week, where kids come home to a consistent presence, and where the table always has room for one more.

In their four years as verified foster parents with PCHAS, they’ve walked through eight placements. Most of those children have reunified with their families — and Chad and Kasey celebrate every one of those outcomes. Two of those children, however, found their forever home with her and Chad.

For their adopted children, family connection didn’t stop at the front door. Kasey and Chad have worked to maintain a relationship with the biological grandparents, making time for in-person visits several times a month and staying connected through video calls. It’s a quiet but powerful example of what open adoption can look like — honoring where a child comes from while building something new together.

“We want to be a safe, stable place,” Kasey shared. “A place where people feel security.”

Their oldest daughter has caught that vision too. She’s told her parents she wants to be a foster parent herself one day. Kasey smiles when she says it. “Her eyes have been opened to empathy.”

What Makes It Worth It

Ask Kasey about the most rewarding part of fostering and she doesn’t hesitate.

“You get to see them grow,” she said. “They come into your home, and they come out of their shell. They get courage. You get to see that your commitment is paying off.”

That growth doesn’t happen without real dedication. Kasey, a teacher by trade, knows how to meet kids where they are — but even she’ll tell you that coordinating visits, therapies, and appointments for a full house is a challenge all its own. Layered on top of that are the everyday rhythms of sports, school, and church that help every child feel normal and rooted. “The more kids you have, the more complicated it gets,” Kasey said with a laugh. “But it’s worth it.”

The Question She Gets Asked Most

There’s one thing people say to Kasey more than almost anything else: How do you do it? I’d get too attached.

“You’re supposed to. These children need people who will get too attached. The foster process is not about you — it’s about the children.”

Some children will stay a month. Some will stay a year and then leave, and it will hurt. But Kasey doesn’t see that as a reason to hold back. She sees it as the whole point.

“It’s okay to be scared,” she says. “But step out in faith.”

Why They Chose PCHAS

As the idea of fostering stirred in their hearts again, Chad and Kasey came across a video from Hope Local — an organization PCHAS is proud to partner with. The video featured a young person in foster care who was waiting to be adopted. It sparked something. They started making calls, and that’s how they found PCHAS. From their first conversation in November 2021, they were verified foster parents in about nine months.

“Other agencies weren’t helpful,” Kasey recalled. “PCHAS was excited to hear from us. They wanted to get to know us.”

That warmth has carried through every part of their experience. Their caseworker Amber has been a steady presence — personable, grounded, and willing to hold them to high expectations while also meeting them where they are. “She’s always asking, ‘What can PCHAS do for you?’” Kasey said. “She makes it a smooth, easy transition.” They’ve also been grateful for Winell, who has gone above and beyond at community events, and for Katlyn, who has been a trusted resource even beyond their own home.

Could This Be You?

There are children in our community right now who need exactly what Chad and Kasey have built — a safe place, a consistent presence, and someone willing to love them through it all.

If any part of their story resonates with you, Kasey’s encouragement is simple: pray about it, search your heart, and don’t let fear be the reason you don’t step forward.

“We need more families,” she said. “All children need safe homes.”

You could be that family. PCHAS would love to walk alongside you as you take that next step. Reach out to a Foster Care & Adoption Guide at fosteradopt@pchas.org or Join an Online Info Session to learn more.