From Foster Care to Forever Family: A Story About Our Team Member

As National Adoption Month draws to a close, Together for Youth is honored to celebrate the remarkable journeys of families who open their hearts and homes to children in need. Among these inspiring stories is Janet’s, one of our dedicated Homefinders, whose foster care and adoption journey began long before she joined Together for Youth and took place outside of our agency.

Before joining Together for Youth in 2024, Janet and her husband were already living a life centered around care, commitment, and family. With three grown daughters and a little more room in their schedules after years of travel softball and busy routines, Janet felt the pull toward something new.

“We had so much love left to give,” she recalls. “Once our youngest finished college ball, we thought, why not foster? We can do this.”

Their foster care journey began in 2019, completing training just as the pandemic arrived. Their first placement was an 11-year-old boy, followed soon after by a call about a 17-month-old child.

“We didn’t set out to adopt,” Janet shares. “But as time went on and we built a relationship with this little boy, we realized we couldn’t imagine life without him.”

After several years navigating a complex and emotional process, including maintaining contact with his birth parents, working through court proceedings, and supporting him through developmental and behavioral challenges, Janet and her husband officially adopted him in September 2025, five years after he first came into their home.

“The road wasn’t easy,” she says. “We’ve faced diagnoses, sleepless nights, and plenty of moments of doubt. But the love we have for him makes every challenge worth it.”

Over the years, Janet and her family have opened their doors to more than 30 children, providing short-term care, respite, and long-term placements. Some stayed only briefly, while others became like family. Through it all, Janet has held fast to one belief: compassion changes lives.

“There’s such a stigma around fostering,” she says. “People think these kids are troubled or that their parents are bad. But they’re not. They’re just people who have been through hard things. The best thing we can do is show them understanding and stability.”

Today, as a Together for Youth Homefinder, Janet brings that same compassion and lived experience into her work, recruiting and supporting foster families across New York State. Her background gives her a deep empathy for both foster parents and the children they serve.

“It has come full circle for me,” Janet reflects. “I get to help other families start their journey, and I know exactly what they are feeling. The excitement, the fear, the love. It is all worth it.”

As we close out National Adoption Month, Janet’s story reminds us what foster care and adoption are truly about. Families supporting families, love rooted in resilience, and the incredible strength it takes to give a child a place to belong.

Together for Youth is proud to have Janet on our team, living proof that when we invest in children, we invest in the future.