Testimonials

Betty & Randy
An Angel

Have you ever been told "Oh, you are such an angel" for something you do because of something you want to do? So many times over the past few years as people find out that we do foster care and we instantly become "angels". Craziest thing I have ever heard of.

Randy and I both come from large families. We both have 5 brother and sisters. So we are used to very loud and crazy homes. I remember as a little girl one of my grandmas telling me and my girl-cousins "Girls, when you grow up there are plenty of babies in this world that need loving mommies. You don’t need to go having a bunch of babies. Just take one that needs a loving mommy and give it all the love you can!" I was not real sure she knew what she was talking about. I loved and respected her but never gave it much thought as to what she meant when she said those words to us as children.

By the time my Grandmother had passed away I was grown and had begun college to become a Registered Nurse. I had a daughter of my own at this time. Amber was only an infant as I ventured thru nursing school. It was she that was my drive to master the degree. Working my way thru nursing school as a single mom was a great accomplishment in my life.

It was then a few years later that I met and married Randy only to do the traditional buy a house, have a child, etc. We both have furthered our education. I have since become a Healthcare Administrator. Randy has gone to school 10 of the past 12 years to hold a Master’s Degree and become a Licensed Clinical Counselor.

During the time Randy was going to school he and I took a mission trip to Stockton, California to the "gang capital' of America. It was there that we heard terms tossed on children calling them "throw away kids". Associating them with "kids of the system", "kids with no future", "kids with no meaning". These terms touched our lives and our hearts and I began thinking of how my dear old grandma talked to me as a child. I began to think of how could Randy and I offer love to children like this. We then began pondering thoughts of moving to Stockton to assist with the "throw away children". However, something began to talk to us and tell us that there were children just like this in our own town. We began to realize that we needed to become active here in Columbus, Ohio.

So a few years later it became possible to become foster parents for A New Leaf, Inc. We have seen many children in and out of our home. There have been some for days, some for weeks, some for months, and a few for years now. Has it been easy NO-not always! Has it been great NO-not always! However, has it been easy and great with our biological children NO-no always! But we have loved this. We have been rewarded with love back. And Grandma was so right-there are so many children that need a loving mommy! I often hear how “I would love to do foster care but I could not say good bye when it comes time for them to go. Sorry not an excuse. You can say good bye knowing that you are responsible for teaching each child something that is going to aide in their safety, their knowledge, their comfort later in life for each and every one of them.

Foster care is not about saying goodbye to the children. It is not about what it is going to do for or to us. It is about the child receiving what they need, the fact that they receive the strength, the safety, and the food of life for them to become strong adults.

Randy and I have come to realize that we receive so much more from the child than we could ever give to them in a lifetime of them living with us. We have opened our home, our hearts and our lives to each and every child only to receive a greater gift from each one no matter the size.

What some might call "throw away children"-we chose to say that we are the caregiver of "little angels" who have had everything in their life taken from them-only to go to live with total strangers-YOU AND ME.

Kim & Mark

My name is Kim Adkins and my husband and I have been foster parents for A New Leaf for almost six years. Being a foster parent has been one of the most rewarding things in my life, right next to being a mom to my three boys. Since becoming foster parents, we have grown so much as a family. We adopted our first placements, a sibling group of three children. We helped place another sibling group of three with an adoptive family and we were able to help yet another – sibling group of three! – be reunified with their mommy! The wonderful support we received from A New Leaf, along with us providing structure, love and a daily routine have helped these kids so much. Simple things, like having a campfire, the tooth fairy visiting when they lost a tooth, reading them a book, having hot chocolate with them on a snowy day, these are some of the most memorable times for them – and us. I encourage you to contact A New Leaf today to start the process.

Karen & Keith

Our family has been with A New Leaf for over 3 years. Our experience with this agency has been absolutely amazing.. The staff is incredible and always available no matter what the need. A New leaf maintains a very organized, detailed and updates program. Throughout the year picnics, parties, outings, hayrides and miscellaneous events celebrate the children and families of this organization. The children, staff, and families involved with this agency are certainly a testimonial to "unconditional love". The decision to become a foster parent with A New Leaf was not easy, but one of the most rewarding decisions we have ever made for our family.

Norma

I became a foster parent after I retired so my daughters foster children could come spend the night with me. They called me "grandma", and wanted to stay with me as my other grandchildren did/do.

I started doing respites, then took placements.

It has been very rewarding to see the "good" changes in most of the children I have had in my home. It has also given me a responsibility that has been very satisfying when otherwise I would not have had much to keep me busy.

The placement I have now will be graduating high school and entering college in 2011. She has made a complete turn around since "A New Leaf Agency" accepted her, and placed her in my home. This is only part of the rewards for being a foster parent. Seeing the child you have helped, grow up and be a responsible adult. A lot of children do not get this opportunity.