DCCH Foster Mom Katy Sullivan shares thoughts about her role, and we just had to share.

For those of you who don’t know me, we have seven children and two foster daughters ages six and seven.

In my previous life before marriage and children, I was a social worker for the state and worked with children in out of home care, their birth parents, and sometimes, foster parents. During this time, I was blessed to work with some amazing foster parents, like Susan. She had an incredible gift to love every child placed with her family as if they were the only child in the entire world. I learned firsthand how you can love a child, regardless of how God brings them to you!

Once David and I were married and started having children, I stayed home with the kids, and we became foster parents. We had some children for shorter periods of time and then Angie became a permanent part of our family. After six biological children and one adopted, we stopped fostering… for a while.

Once Hanna and Mackenzie left for college and moved out, I got the stirring to be a foster parent again. David agreed (although a bit reluctantly at times). We were blessed to find DCCH, which has an amazing program with very gifted and committed staff! They are the backbone to any of the successes we have had!

When the girls came to us, they literally had the clothes on their back. I made one post looking for a few things, and I was overwhelmed with the clothes, toys, books, and shoes we received. For weeks, my porch was full of surprises! There have been so many other things: invitations to swim; haircuts; car rides; babysitting; answering late night medical questions.

So many people have stepped in to help and shower them with so much love. Cov Cath parents who are so patient during games, playing barbies and buying giant coloring books. My friends who take me out of the house for a pedi and margaritas, saving my sanity on some days! Our family, near and far, who always open their hearts and homes to our additional kiddos, even including them in cousiville and providing respite for us. Our older kids who return home in emergencies to do whatever is needed or take the girls to Louisville to help out! We could NEVER do this without them!

Every teacher, front office staff, counselor, resource teacher, and instructional aide at Mann Elementary as well as the preschool staff at St Tim’s have gone above and beyond for these little girls! The love and care they have received have been true testaments to the good in people! We are also blessed with amazing therapists who have taught me more than I could have imagined!

Being a foster parent definitely stretches me beyond where I think I can go. But then God sends us someone who reminds us we are just trying to take care of a couple of His children, and we don’t do any of it alone. God sends all of you to help and support and love.
If you have any questions about being a foster parent or being a support to a foster family, let me know!

With a grateful heart, Katy

Interested in fostering?Learn more now.