A Home That Never Closes Its Door: Latasha and Tavaous's Kinship Story

Latasha and Tavaous never set out to become foster parents. They simply said yes to one child, their grandson, and that yes has since grown into a family story involving 12 children.

It started when Tavaous' grandson, Layton, needed a home. He'd already spent one year in foster care when he was placed with Latasha and Tavaous at 17 months old. The court eventually decided he should stay with their family, permanently.

To make this happen, they needed to become verified through an agency, so they turned to Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services (PCHAS). They worked with the agency to complete all of the training, documentation, and assessments necessary to become a foster an adoptive family. The approval made it possible for them to eventually adopt or receive permanent managing conservatorship, and it also meant they got access to resources and support while they fostered.

By the time they completed their verification with PCHAS, another need arose. In addition to Layton, Tavaous and Latasha welcomed Kaden and Harmony into their family. And, they welcomed Mylo, Layton’s brother, the next year. Latasha says the support from PCHAS made all the difference. She was able to trust that her case manager had her back.

Since 2022, Latasha and Tavaous have fostered a total of 12 children. Some, like Layton, Harmony, Kaden, and Mylo were kinship. Others were children with no family connection at all, welcomed into the home just the same. Some of those children stayed forever. Some reunified with parents or other family members. Others moved on to different foster homes. Every child has been part of their family.

Going Above and Beyond

Latasha credits much of their success to her case manager, Kristina, who she says has gone above and beyond for her family time and again. Whether it’s a morning check-in or staying available well into the evening, Kristina has always been ready to help the family work through whatever situation arose.

"You can tell she loves her job and she loves these kids," Latasha said.

For Latasha, that kind of support is one of the biggest benefits of becoming verified with an agency like PCHAS. It means more caring eyes on your family; people who ask the hard questions you might not think to ask yourself and point you toward resources you didn't know existed.

A Family That Never Lets Go

Ask Latasha what's most rewarding about fostering, and she talks about all the children that have been in her home. This includes children who have been in her home for a few months to those they have adopted. These children are her family and she has felt blessed to be able to stay in touch with children who have reunified as well.

The hardest part, Latasha says, is advocacy: making sure children get the resources they need, even when it isn't easy to access. In fact, after seeing  how much support children need in school, Latasha found a job within the school district to be more accessible.

Rooted in Faith

People often ask Latasha why she fosters and how she keeps opening her home again and again. Her answer isn't complicated: these kids come carrying trauma they never asked for. She wants to help them, so she leans on her faith, praying and listening for where God is leading her next.

Her advice for anyone considering fostering or kinship care is honest: it isn't easy, but it's worth doing. Love is kind, and love is patient. She has seen children have to be in her home for several months before they open up. She knows this is because it takes time to finally feel safe. One child would hoard food because of their food insecurity before coming into their home.

"You don't have to be a taker or hide food," Latasha tells the children in her home. "I will provide for you. You don't have to worry about your next meal."  Latasha and the children in her home will go grocery shopping together and specifically buy food that can stay in a “Yes Drawer” that children always can access. This reassurance made the difference, helping the children feel safe in their home.  

Along the way, Latasha's mother, daughters, coworkers, and friends have stepped in with respite care and encouragement, carrying the family through the hard days and celebrating the good ones alongside them.

During National Kinship Month, we're celebrating families like Latasha and Tavaous's who show up for one child at a time and never really let them go. If you're a Texas Kinship Caregiver, we'd be honored to share the resources and support available for your family. Connect with one of our Foster Care & Adoption Guides at www.pchas.org/connect.

If you care about children in foster care but don't know of a specific need, we'd love to hear from you, too. Reach out to one of our Foster Care & Adoption Guides to learn how you can help. Sign up for an Online Info Session at www.pchas.org/FosterAdoptEvents to learn more.