Currently in the United States there are over 400,000 children in foster care and approximately 108,000 of those children are waiting for permanent homes. In 2014, 23,000 children aged out of the foster care system without having found their forever families. National Adoption Month is a time to raise awareness about adopting a child from foster care and to emphasize that children never outgrow the need for a family.
In honor of National Adoption Month, Tioga County would like to recognize one of our own foster and adoptive families who have opened their hearts and their home to several children over the years.
Kati and Dale Baggerly have been foster parents since 2006. During their nine years as foster parents, they have fostered six children and adopted four of them. They have fostered and adopted children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers.
Kati and Dale have resided in Tioga County since 2002. As with many families, Kati and Dale became interested in foster care and adoption after struggling to have children of their own. Kati stated that she has friends who pursued private adoption and were told how expensive that process can be. For Kati and Dale, their faith is an integral part of their life and Kati stated that she began to see how many children in the area were in need of stable and loving homes. She believes that while they began this journey to try and add to their family, foster care has truly become a passion for them.
Kati stated that she often hears from others when she says she is a foster parent, “I could never do that.” Kati’s response is usually “I understand, but it’s not something you can do, it’s something you have to do. Yes, it’s going to be hard and yes it may hurt.” (Especially in regards to watching children return home to their parents.) She continued, “Someone needs to be willing to hug a child for a time, to listen while they talk, to be there when they cry and to be willing to look behind what is on the surface and see the real pain underneath.”
When asked if they had any advice, or if anything truly surprised them as foster and adoptive parents, Kati stated that the biggest surprise was the relationship you build with the families of the children you care for. Kati stated that you are not just fostering the children, but fostering their families so they can become stronger and the children can return home.
She stated, “We connect with other people and walk alongside families to build them up, and in doing that, strengthen our own family. We learn what true love actually looks like and how we can show that kind of love to others.”
For these reasons, Kati and Dale have been able to maintain contact with several of the children and families who they have connected with over the years through foster care. She admits that the relationships you build with families take time because there is typically a lot of fear from the families since someone else is caring for their children, but that those relationships are essential for the child.
Do you have room in your heart and your home? If so, join the team that cares about kids, the Tioga County Foster Parenting Program, where we know that temporary care makes a permanent difference. Tioga County is in need of caring foster and adoptive families like the Baggerly’s, who are able to provide a nurturing home for children. We are especially in need of foster and adoptive families who can provide care to teenagers, siblings and children with special needs.
For more information about being a certified foster and/or adoptive parent, please contact Sarah Moore at the Tioga County Department of Social Services by calling (607) 687-8346 or emailing sarah.moore2@dfa.state.ny.us. You may also visit them online at www.tiogacountyny.com/department/foster-care-adoption-home-finding-unit.
