Story By: Tiffany White
Michael, also known as “Mikey”, insists he doesn’t like school, but his mom, Allie believes the opposite is true. Testing in the 99th percentile, Mikey, 6, reads at a third-grade level, has a sophisticated vocabulary, excels in math, and says he wants to become a principal when he grows up. “He does (like school) but he won’t admit it,” she says.
Allie and Michael, who adopted Mikey on October 29th, said that for them, fostering was a way to help children in need. Although adoption was a possibility, says Allie, their main motivation was to provide care and support as foster parents. “There are a lot of misconceptions about what it means to be a foster parent and there’s a stigma. I’ve had a lot of friends say: ‘You’re not like the typical foster parent couple,’ but what does that look like? There doesn’t need to be any kind of extenuating circumstances that lead you to do this. You can just want to be a foster parent.”
The couple met Mikey two years ago and after a short period of being together, the bond between became unbreakable. “After four months, we knew he wouldn’t want to leave us,” says Allie. For those who are thinking about fostering a child, she suggests getting certified as a foster parent. “There’s no harm in learning more about it. And if it turns out not to be right for you, it’s not something you have to commit to for the rest of your life. But I found that everyone I’ve known has done found it to be the most rewarding experience. You’re doing something very selfless. You could be saving a life, and I think that’s impactful for people to feel.”
P.S. Stories like Mikey’s start with a single “yes.” We’re asking you to say “yes” to helping others through a monthly gift as an Impact Club member. It is simple, powerful, and deeply rewarding. Join the Impact Club and help us write more happy endings.
This post was supported by funds made available by the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Office of Health Equity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, under RFA-OT21-2103. The content of this post are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of or endorsement by the Kentucky Department for Public Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.