How Can Ordinary Families Make an Extraordinary Impact Through Foster Care?

In this episode, Ashley shares how her family of seven became nine after a change in North Carolina law allowed larger families to foster. She describes the licensing process, welcoming two young siblings, and the challenges and joys of expanding their family. Ashley discusses building a relationship with the children’s birth mother, the emotional complexities of adoption, and the vital support from organizations and her community. Her story highlights the importance of flexibility, keeping siblings together, and the transformative impact of fostering.“I’m very normal, very ordinary, but God uses ordinary people to do great things. We need to stop looking at foster parents as superheroes. We’re regular people who just do what it takes in the moment as life comes at us. If you see there is a need and you can fill it, do it. - Ashley  What You Will Learn: Experiences of foster families in North Carolina The Loving Homes Act and its impact on fostering The process of becoming licensed foster parents Challenges and adjustments of integrating children into a large family Importance of keeping siblings together in foster care Emotional complexities of shared parenting with biological families Support systems and resources available for foster families The significance of individual attention for each child in a large family The impact of fostering on family dynamics and relationships Encouragement for potential foster parents and addressing misconceptions about fostering  Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and podcast purpose 00:59 – Meet Ashley and her family 01:54 – Discovering the NC law change 04:16 – The Loving Homes Act  07:52 – Welcoming their first placement 09:49 – Reuniting siblings 11:28 – Honeymoon stage and early challenges 14:06 – Adjusting to a larger family 17:08 – Homeschooling adjustments 18:25 – Protecting family & couple time 20:27 – Visits, appointments, and casework 22:21 – Shared parenting with birth mom 24:38 – Adoption finalization 25:59 – Loss and emotions in adoption 28:27 – Talking with biological children 29:08 – Adoption Day emotions 31:04 – Birth mom’s sacrifice 32:47 – Support systems and community help  36:20 – Creating comfort and security 37:33 – Building trust and attachment 40:25 – Encouragement for foster parents 44:37 – The need for more foster homes 46:51 – Best parts of fostering and adoption 48:21 – Closing and listener invitation Episode Resources: Catch up on previous episodes of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered here: https://chsnc.org/about/podcast/ For more information about Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, visit: chsnc.org To be a guest on the podcast, email: [email protected] To learn more about foster care, visit: https://chsnc.org/adoption-and-foster-care/get-started/ Let’s be friends! Follow us on social media:  Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina  Instagram: @chs_nc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/chs-nc YouTube: @chsnc