Written by: Kindall Stevenson, Marketing, Advertising & Recruitment Specialist
Long time People Places foster parents, Randall and Elder recently shared details on their decision to foster and how they found the agency.
“Elder and I have always wanted children and one day while watching tv we see a commercial for People Places,” Randall said.
The couple’s next step was to ask Randall’s cousin to call and inquire about People Places’ policy on certifying same-sex parents. Once they learned that the agency takes families of all compositions, they called immediately and set up an interview.
“After meeting with Joyce, [Joyce Stratton- People Places’ Teaching Parent Coordinator] we enrolled in the next parenting class that was held. After completing the class and having our home study done, we were approved to be foster parents,” he explained.
Both Randall and Elder are hopeful to adopt one day and expressed their excitement over making their family complete. For now, however, they are active foster parents; “In April of 2014 we receive our first placement. Since then we have had a total of 6 placements and numerous children in respite care.”
Randall discussed the ups and downs regarding foster care. He said, “The most rewarding thing is to see the progress that children make while in your care. The most challenging part is trying to figure out what works and don’t work for each child.”
“We would say the one thing we love most about being parents is having someone that depends on you to make everything better. We love going out to dinner and taking the kids to the movies.”
As veteran foster parents, Randall and Elder said their one piece of advice for new and/or potential foster parents would be, “if you are doing it for any other reason than to help the kids, don’t.”
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