Foster parenting opens the window for you to maintain that relationship and watch them grow.
Iowa mom Tina has been a foster and adoptive parent since 2008 and in that time, her family has adopted two children and fostered 47. Over the years, Tina has supported every child in her care, but she has also prioritized building positive relationships with a child’s birth family. She remembers one phone call from...
COVID-19 has turned our lives upside-down. But nothing will stand in the way of our mission of hope and healing. As part of our Compassion in Crisis Campaign, we’re sharing five stories from our workers on the frontlines, who continue to make a difference in the lives of Iowa children and families. Our goal is...
Paulynn had a dream of what she wanted in life: Lots of friends, a job she loved, a healthy lifestyle, and a sense of community. But it was difficult for Paulynn to leave the apartment she shared with her dad, Lee. Though Lee had dedicated his life to serving as his daughter’s primary caregiver, they...
In his home country of Somalia, Ali was thriving. He had more than 20 years of experience as a dental lab technician, and he loved every second of his work. His big, bright smile and warm personality made him the perfect fit for the job. But political instability and war created turmoil in the country....
As a child, Morgan had endured trauma no one should experience. Addiction, divorce, and difficult family relationships all surrounded Morgan in her childhood home and by the time she turned 18, she was living on her own. When she found out she was pregnant for the first time, Morgan was determined to never repeat the...
My name is Ruth, and I’m a Youth Associate at LSI’s Beloit Residential Treatment Center in Ames. Every day at Beloit, we work with kids who have often experienced extreme trauma. Our job is to help them overcome their pasts and build new skills that will lead to brighter futures. I see stories of hope...
“Our whole family leaves BHIS sessions with a positive attitude. It gives me some hope, and LSI gave us a direction and an idea of how to improve.”
When she became overwhelmed with family stress at home, Dianna didn’t know how to cope with her emotions. She began getting into fights with other kids at school and eventually found herself involved in juvenile courts. Her father, Pedro, was worried about her and wanted to find a way to help his child. When he...
It’s 7:30 a.m. on a Tuesday. Amanda is rounding up her three children – Brenna, 13, Reese, 11, and Kylee, 9 – so she can get them to school. She’s packing lunches and finding lost shoes and checking the day’s calendar. It’s a busy day, but a typical one – work, then an evening jam-packed...
