Saying YES: Stepping Into Foster Care
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A letter from Heather Huebner, Director of Operations & Recruitment:
Stepping into foster care is not something most people grow up planning to do or maybe it’s something you always thought you would do. For many, it starts as a quiet thought: “I wonder if I could do that.” Maybe it’s sparked by a story, a conversation, or a tug on your heart you can’t quite explain. If that thought has ever crossed your mind, I want to talk to you!
Right now, there is a tremendous need for more families to say YES.
Children enter foster care through no fault of their own. They come from hard places, often carrying loss, fear, and uncertainty that no child should have to carry alone. What they need most is not a perfect home, but a welcoming one. A place where they are safe. A place where they are seen. A place where they can begin to heal.
One of the biggest myths about foster care is that you have to have it all together before you can begin. The truth? None of us are perfect. You don’t need a flawless house, endless experience, or all the answers. What you need is a willingness to open your door and your heart—and to keep showing up.
If you’ve ever considered foster care, I want to encourage you to ask questions. Ask all of them. No question is too small, too complicated, or too uncomfortable. Ask about the process, the challenges, the support, the expectations, and the realities. Asking questions doesn’t mean you’re not ready—it means you care enough to learn.
Foster care is not about rescuing a child. It’s about walking alongside them for however long they are with you. It’s about providing stability when their world feels upside down. It’s about offering love while also understanding that these children already have families, histories, and stories that matter.
Being willing to love a child in foster care means being willing to love them as they are. It means loving them even when it’s hard, even when progress is slow, even when goodbye may eventually come. And yes—goodbyes can hurt deeply. But love that heals is worth it!
You are not meant to do this alone. Foster families need support just as much as the children they care for. There is help available—training, community, caseworkers, other foster parents, and resources designed to walk beside you. Foster care works best when families are supported, honest about their needs, and willing to ask for help along the way.
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply make the call. Not to commit. Not to promise anything. Just to learn more. To gather information. To see if this might be where your heart is being led.
May is Foster Care Month, a time set aside to recognize the incredible need and the incredible impact of those who step in. This month, I encourage you to consider what saying “yes” could look like for you. Saying yes to learning. Saying yes to asking questions. Saying yes to welcoming a child who needs safety, consistency, and care. Saying yes because every child deserves a family.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing. If foster care has ever crossed your mind, please consider making that call. Or visit our website at encouragefostercare.org.
About the Author
Heather Huebner
Director of Operations & Recruitment
As Director of Operations and Recruitment, I ensure our team is equipped to work effectively and efficiently to provide quality support and services to our foster families. My true passion is to engage and connect with families who have the heart to foster and walk alongside them throughout their journey! I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions you may have, together we can make lasting impacts!
