A foster mom's experience helping families in need: 'Once you see it you can't unsee it'

A Treasure Valley foster mom wants Idahoans to consider how meaningful it can be to make a difference for a family in crisis. In the past four years she and her family have welcomed 16 foster children into their home. She hopes it's something more Idahoans will consider.

"I'm very passionate about supporting foster care in the Treasure Valley. Once you see the need, you can't unsee it," said Becca. "Once you start putting a face to these kids and you hear their stories-and even as you get to know the biological families and start to know their stories-you can't not love them. I love them so much, and I root for them."

Becca said her upbringing predisposed her to giving back through the foster care program, but signing up still gave her pause. She and her husband have four children of their own, and they worried about how fostering might impact their family.

"I was worried that I didn't have the capacity to do what it takes because our life was already so busy. I was also so scared about how fostering might affect our kids, what they might be exposed to, what they might learn," she said. "Would they get enough attention? Would they have their needs met?"

But those fears have proved unfounded, and they've been surprised at the positive impact it's had on the family.

"I can tell you that foster care has absolutely affected my kids. They're more compassionate; they're more loving; their world view has changed; they love with bigger hearts, offer more grace. They get to cheer on our biological families; they have a front-row seat to seeing families lives changed."

Becca described the recent experience of receiving a Mother's Day card from the mom of two of the children she'd cared for during a time of family difficulty: The last line of the card said, "You cared for my girls when I was too broken to do so."

Each foster care story is unique, but the card from a grateful biological mother helps illustrate that being a foster

family is about being part of the village for another family in our community and that many are about hope: hope that kids will be given the love they need to succeed and hope that biological families will find their footing when they can.

"As foster parents, you're loving the whole family," Becca said. "You're not just saying I'm better equipped to

parent this child. You're saying: here's a family in crisis and you're helping the whole unit."

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, it can be as small as committing to one kid for one season of their life. Please call 2-1-1 or (800) 926-2588, or visit DHW's foster care page for more information. Your willingness to open your home can make a profound difference in a child's life.

"It's not easy," Becca said. "It's the hardest thing we've ever done, but it's the best thing we've ever done."

• Watch a short video Becca recorded to help others understand more about fostering.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

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