An 11-year-old boy in foster care made Madeline Griffitt start contemplating adoption. She met him when he was a third-grade student in her class and continued teaching him for the next two years.
The two developed a close relationship and after his adoption, Madeline says she noticed a marked difference in his behavior. “When he got to fifth grade, he would try to act tough and then one day he came to me with this cute little smile on his face and asked, ‘Ms. Griffitt, do you know what day it is?’ I said no, what day is it, and he said, ‘Today is my Gotcha Day: the day I was adopted.’ My heart melted,” she says. Madeline and her husband Zach connected with St. Joe’s and became foster parents to 12-year-old Arte in April of 2021. The couple finalized the adoption on February 17, 2022.
As a LGBTQ+ child, Arte often had conflicts with peers who didn’t accept them, but meeting Madeline and Zach – coupled with the support they have received from St. Joes – eased those difficulties. “Right before winter break, *they were able to walk away when someone said something triggering to them. Not even a year ago, they would have solved the conflict through fighting.” She adds: “The classes at St. Joe’s prepared us. There hasn’t been a situation that has come up with Arte that we didn’t address in some way in the classes. I never felt like we didn’t have the resources to be successful.”
Madeline describes Arte, who is now 14, as a fun loving, smart kid who is a big fan of practical jokes. “Arte and Zach like to play pranks on me to make me think the house is haunted.”
P.S. You can support our St. Joe’s kids by becoming a respite provider, foster, or adoptive parent. Attend our information meeting scheduled the first Tuesday of every month at 5:45 p.m. on the St. Joe’s campus. Contact Lisa Barber-Atwell at alicab@sjkids.org to register or call (502) 893.0241.
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