Katie and Shane's Story

Shane and Katie knew they wanted to grow their family, but they had no idea their journey would lead them to fostering and adopting not one, but two children. Their story is one of unexpected blessings and all that is possible when families say “yes” to kids who need them.

When they first connected with PCHAS, Shane and Katie’s sons, Roman and Deacon, were 11 (almost 12) and 8. They were active in the local sports community; the boys played, and Shane coached. They always talked about having another child but did not feel like having a baby was the right fit for their busy family.

They decided to explore foster care and adoption. They attended an information meeting and connected with Travis Cutbirth, a Foster Care & Adoption Guide with PCHAS. They heard about the need for families to foster and adopt school-aged kids and siblings and thought it might work better to care for kids who could be involved in sports and activities. The PCHAS Home Development staff were flexible and caring; they knew they had chosen the right agency. They worked closely with the PCHAS team and completed the training, documentation and home study assessment for verification.

A few months after verification, the family settled in to watch a movie together on a Friday night, and the phone rang. Shane said, “It was an emergency placement. PCHAS called and said that CPS needed a family to take two children.” The placement happened quickly, and Katie and Shane said the kids arrived within 30 minutes. While the family thought it might be best to start with fostering one child, they had agreed to consider a sibling pair on a case-by-case basis. When they got the call, Shane says, “We knew it was right [to keep the kids together], so we said yes to the siblings.”

Hunter is 4 years old, and his sister, Bailey, is 10. Katie said that when they joined the family about 2 ½ years ago, “they just became part of our family. We fell in love with them right away."

The transition was not without its challenges. "The court appearances, the visits, the constant coordination can be draining," Shane admits. “However, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Getting to see them grow and start to dream is the most rewarding part.”

They worked closely with PCHAS through it all. "PCHAS was amazing!” said Shane and Katie. They got to know the team members and trusted them. PCHAS is a large agency with lots of support and resources, but we keep our local teams small for this reason. “Our caseworker, Jessie, would plan to come by 15 minutes to drop something off and ended up staying for hours, really connecting with us and the kids,” said Katie.

Katie and Shane fostered the children for about a year and a half. They loved the kids dearly but also supported the first goal for the kids to be reunified with their birth family or relatives, building relationships with the kids’ family and getting to know them. When the court decided adoption would be the best plan for Bailey and Hunter, Shane and Katie readily agreed. They were excited for the kids to be part of their family forever.

They recently celebrated the first anniversary of their adoption and said they are cherishing every moment with their expanded family. "Hunter is just the most hilarious little guy, and Bailey is such a blessing," Katie smiles. "We may not have planned on having two more kids, but we wouldn't change it for the world."

They have also remained connected to the children’s extended family. Hunter and Bailey are connected to their cousins. Katie and Shane prioritize meetups at the park and sleepovers so the kids can grow up together and stay close. They make it possible for the kids to continue seeing their birth mother regularly, too.

Shane and Katie encourage others to consider fostering or adopting. "It's not easy, but it's so worth it," Shane affirms. "You don't have to be perfect - you just have to be willing to open your heart and home to a child in need."

PCHAS staff had some wonderful things to share about Shane and Katie. Brittanie Dingrando is our Home Development Coordinator and Intake Specialist for our team in Itasca, TX. She said that their greatest strength is their advocacy for the kids. Brittanie said, “They have always looked out for their kids' best interest over everything else.” Jessie Porter was the family’s Case Manager. She agreed they are incredible advocates and continued by saying that their consistent nurture and structure are a huge asset. “To say that they are patient is an understatement,” Jessie said. “They walked alongside these kiddos through their trauma and always met them where they were!” Charlene Jackson, Program Director for the Foster Care & Adoption team in Itasca, TX, said, “They always thought about the needs of the kids first and figured out how to make whatever that kid needed to happen. …They taught, modeled, and encouraged their daughter to use her voice and how to use it to be heard. They reached out for help and guidance from their Case Manager regularly and trusted her and PCHAS.”

Shane and Katie knew they wanted to continue to parent, so they explored their options and found that foster care and adoption were the right paths for their family. Their typical Friday nights now include movies or fun things for their family 6.

Are you interested in learning more about fostering or adopting? Join a Foster Care & Adoption Online Info Session or reach out to a PCHAS Foster Care & Adoption Guide at 281-324-0544 or fosteradopt@pchas.org.