Foster Family Spotlight: Michael & Tiffany Share 15+ Years of Caregiving Experience

Michael and Tiffany have been foster parents for more than 15 years. They have five children — four biological and one adopted through foster care. Most recently, they moved their 8-year-old foster son of three years to his adoptive family.

Beginnings

“We wanted to be foster parents to help families in need,” they said. "Michael is a teacher, and Tiffany is a social worker. “We felt we had some skills and a support system that would allow us to be foster parents and assist families who were going through a difficult time.”

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“The best part of fostering is seeing the progress the children make, whether it’s with their physical health, development, academic progress or social skills. It’s fun to watch them grow and blossom into their own interests,” they said. “We’ve also had biological family thank us for being kind to them and thank us for taking good care of their child and loving them well when they were unable to do so.”

Challenges 

“Foster care is unpredictable and out of your control. You are at the mercy of the system and the courts, and most of the time when a child comes to your home, you have very limited information about them and their family,” they said. “We have learned to focus on the things we can control — which is how well we love and care for the child in our home. We can do our part to make sure the child has their needs met and feels loved by our family and connected to our community.”

Advice 

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength,” they said. “It’s also important to take care of yourself so that you can take care of others well. Finally, don’t be attached to your expectations, but rather be attached to the child. If you are sad and cry when a child leaves your home, that’s a sign that you loved and cared for them well. You did it right.”

Interested in learning more about becoming a foster caregiver in Medina County? Contact Layne Hedden, foster parent recruiter and peer supporter, at laynefosteradopt@gmail.com or 330-635-9165.