The Hawley family is a prime example of love in action. Their first child was placed in their home in 2019 and they immediately embraced him with tender love and care. The moment they met him they fell in love with everything about him. Like Jesus’ mother, Mary, they gave their “yes” to opening their home and hearts to this child. Although there have been many challenges along the way, their unconditional love and God’s grace has allowed them to persevere in their journey.

During the last two years, the family has faced many trials, which included interaction with the birth parents and a deterioration in the child’s behavior. The family worked collaboratively with different service providers to help improve the child’s behaviors both at home and at school. They never lost hope. They created safe spaces in their home for the child to safely express himself and modify inappropriate behaviors. They have been selfless in their love as they reconsidered major life decisions to maintain stability and consistency for this child. They continuously put the child’s needs and interests first without hesitation.

They love like Jesus loved, by giving of themselves. It is with great pleasure that we highlight the Hawley family for the month of December.

We need more foster families like the Hawley’s. To learn how you can become a foster parent contact Dudly Decoste, ddecoste@hhch.org.

The role of a foster parent is essential in helping children heal from the trauma that brought them into foster care. Foster parents not only provide a loving and stable home, but they also teach children life skills so they can lead full and productive lives. Through the love, patience, and commitment foster parents provide, children are able to thrive and begin feeling simply like a kid again.

Little Michael has been with Jacqueline since 2018. Since then, Michael has only experienced Jacqueline’s agape love, patience and a deep sense of her commitment to his well-being. Like most foster parents, Jacqueline has experienced difficult personal circumstances and challenges, however, she has always demonstrated willingness to adapt and develop new skills along the way to provide the best care for Michael.

As a result, Michael sees Jacqueline as the one adult that has always been there through his most difficult times. She has ensured that Michael maintains communication with all the important people in his life and that he always feels and is loved like a child of her own. It is a pleasure and honor to nominate Jacqueline.

Children in foster care need a safe and loving family. To find out how you can become a foster family contact Dudly Decoste, ddecoste@hhch.org.

Tanishia and Roderick Stokes have served as dedicated foster parents for the past six years. In that time, they have cared for more than five children, adopted two and are currently fostering one.

Met with many challenges along the way, the Stokes have risen to every occasion with grace and love. Their current foster son has three siblings who they’ve made it a priority to see as often as possible; certainly, more than the minimum required visitations call for. But making this come to pass hasn’t been easy.

Accommodating schedules outside of what is required. Changing their plans around. Meeting at closer locations to the other family. Organizing the entire visit in advanced. These are all efforts the Stokes have made to ensure the siblings don’t miss out on spending time with each other and being a part of major family events.

The Stokes are constantly striving to do the very best by any child they cross paths with. Their unwavering dedication to the children makes evident how passionate they are about family and sibling bonds.

Children in foster care need a safe and loving family. To find out how you can become a foster family contact Dudly Decoste, ddecoste@hhch.org.

Henry and Sarah have been foster parents for a little more than a year. They exemplify what it means to foster children in our system of care. They advocate for the children’s daily and long-term needs, they are present not just in the home but also in school settings, with therapists and the biological family. They are working toward what is in the best interest of the children in their home.

“We are grateful to be fostering with His House on this journey because we too get to be a part of God’s plan and His House’s mission of bringing wholeness and restoration to the lives of our boys and their family. We met the boys on a Tuesday and Covid lockdown started on a Friday, so it has been a particularly unique last 15 months for us and the boys. But we’ve been able to see them grow both physically (literally inches) and emotionally and have done quite a bit of growing ourselves. We just finished the school year strong and are looking forward to a fun summer of adventures.”

We need more foster parents like Henry and Sarah. Learn how you can become a foster parent by contacting Dudly Decoste: ddecoste@hhch.org

The Medina’s would stop at nothing for their foster sons.

The family has been fostering for three and a half years, and in that time, they have met every challenge with dedication and grace, never shying away from the most difficult of cases.

A co-parenting approach allows for their unwavering presence for their foster children, despite the demands that accompany driving to two or three visitations per week.

The family has loved largely and released willingly, whenever needed, knowing they may have to say goodbye to children they genuinely care for at a moment’s notice. They’ve never tried to control the uncontrollable circumstances that come with fostering, and their grace is ever-present.

The Medina’s source of strength comes from the Lord. As a family, they always conquer the challenges of fostering together and maintain open lines of communication, keeping team members abreast of everything.

The Medina’s would stop at nothing for their foster sons. This has been made evident through their continued devotion, despite behavioral challenges they’re faced within the past two years.

The family loves the boys as their very own, and weariness aside, they have never complained or waivered in their involvement. They consistently meet challenges with humor and loads of love. It is a pleasure and an honor to nominate this family. They deserve the very best. We need more foster families like the Medina’s.

To learn how you can become a foster parent contact Dudly Decoste, ddecoste@hhch.org

Here at His House Children’s Home, we recognize and celebrate the vital role that a foster dad can play in the life of a child. As we look forward to Father’s Day, we would like to share with you some thoughts on fatherhood from the perspective of one of His House’s own foster dads, Nelson Caban.

“This will be the second year I will be able to celebrate Father’s Day as a foster dad. Never having kids of my own, for me, the day has always been about my own dad.

I remember receiving Father’s Day wishes last year, and thinking to myself that I really didn’t deserve them because the children weren’t mine. But we have had 9 kids come through our door, 5 of them were with us for only 1 or 2 weeks. One set of siblings was with us for almost 7 months, and our current siblings have been in our home for almost 5 months.

During these past two years, I’ve learned that being a father is more than just being a caretaker. I’ve jumped in kiddie pools and playpens … I’ve bandaged up boo-boos… I’ve had a baby sleep in my arms and sneeze in my face, and tomorrow I will attend my first prekindergarten graduation.

I’m always looking for opportunities to teach my current foster son. I’ve told him that I don’t like to hear him say, “I can’t,” but that it’s okay to say, “I don’t know how.” I told him I would always be there to help and teach him. Just the other day he said, “I can’t,” and quickly covered his mouth, and with his eyes open wide and a smile, he corrected himself and said, “I don’t know how.” That made me really happy because I want him to believe he can do anything.

For these reasons, I believe I qualify to celebrate and enjoy this Father’s day.

Being a father is a big responsibility and a blessing. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a foster parent. I never know how long we will have the children with us, so I have to make every day count. Being a father has been a learning experience and I don’t always get it right, but as long as I give these kids the love and the support they need, I can’t go wrong.”

His House is blessed to have 46 foster families extending our ministry to abused, abandoned and neglected children throughout Southern Florida. We count on individuals like Nelson to fill the shoes of a father in the lives of these children who desperately need a safe home and the loving care of a family.

If you believe that you have room in your heart and home for a child in need, we need you. Please call His House today at 305.430.0085 ext. 240 for more information.

“My husband and I had often considered the possibility of adopting a child, or at least having foster children in our home, in order to help kids in need.
Originally, we expected to adopt a child from Colombia, our native country, but we found out that it was too difficult and expensive.
We had friends who were foster parents and we knew a bit about their experience. We were definitely interested. But even though we thought about it frequently, there always seemed to be other things that distracted us from actually starting the process of becoming foster parents.

Until one Sunday we were at church. At the end of the mass, a couple was speaking and introduced His House and its foster parents’ program. At that moment, we both knew it was time for us to get started.

The licensing process at His House was extraordinary. We learned a lot about the situations that kids are coming from and how much we would be able to help. The staff at His House were a tremendous help and made the licensing process easy for us.

Initially, we had decided to foster a girl between 2 and 7 years of age, since those are the ages of our biological children. We, as well as the staff we were working with, agreed that those would be the best ages for us to foster.

After the process was finished, we were asked a few times if we were open to foster particular children, but the process was never completed for one reason or another.

One day we were asked if we were willing to take a 7-month-old boy. My husband and I decided that we were open to that option if it was God’s will.

And so far, the experience with Michael, our foster baby angel, has been marvelous. He is a happy little boy and he has enriched our lives so much. Our children are extremely fond of him and he has become an integral part of our family. Everybody in our extended family is also very happy we are doing this and they also love baby Michael.

We thank God for this opportunity He has given us, and we hope to be able to fulfill it in the best way we can.”

A true hero is not measured by his physical strength but by the strength of his heart. Thank you Carolina and Pedro for being a HERO for baby Michael!

Juan Carlos and Francely Gonzalez have been licensed foster parents with His House Children’s Home since 2013. The family recalls the day that the first child was placed in their home, “She arrived helpless and uncertain, but eager to be happy and that is where she blossomed.”

Having witnessed the results first hand, the family has taken a fervent view on fostering. They continue to see their purpose as one in which they provide guidance, demonstrate love, and help children navigate life with security, confidence, and optimism as they look forward to the future.

The impact that the family has seen is a positive one as they welcome children who are hurting and in need of love and security to their home. “Every day with them is an achievement. To see all the positive changes and be proud to say that we are a foster family … to watch them blossom in society as good people … we know that we have achieved our purpose in life.”

In addition to serving as foster parents, the family also provides respite care for children. For the Gonzalez family, as long as there is room, their home is always open to provide children a safe.

The family shares, “We are the example of God working through different people in different ways, but the same God who fulfills His purpose through them all.”

Raquel E. has not been able to have children of her own, but was always impressed by individuals who fostered or adopted children. When she became a foster parent herself, she came to value any amount of time she got to share with the child. Raquel states, “I am grateful every day for the opportunity God has presented me with to offer a loving home to a child, to attend to his needs, and to enjoy the family experience.”

Raquel has fostered two children. Although one child was with her for only three days, she felt that her home was a safe haven for that short time. Of her current placement she says, “It has been an awesome experience, being able to foster the child (who has been) in my home for the past fifteen months. Just seeing his face when he looks at me is priceless. He makes my day when I go to his bed in the mornings and he opens his arms for me to pick him up and then hugs me.”

While the experience has been awesome, Raquel has had to face multiple challenges. She has had to deal with her foster child’s health issues, kept multiple doctor appointments, tried different milks and medications, and has gone to court to keep up with the legal issues throughout the process.

Having a good support system of “family, good friends, the licensing group, and being part of the FAPA group and attending their support meetings” has allowed Raquel “to find the strength to overcome whatever the situation and to keep taking things a day at a time.”

Raquel encourages anyone who desires to begin the fostering journey to first ask this simple question, “Do you have room in your heart to share with a foster child? Because if you do, that’s all you need. Once a child is in your life, you will not regret it. My life has changed for the best, knowing I am helping a child who did not have a loving and stable home.”