Erin's Story - Foster Parenting as a single woman - A Door of Hope Tampa Bay
Erin became a foster parent just six months ago in the summer of 2017 after being introduced to A Door of Hope. What made Erin’s situation unique was that unlike most other foster parents who are married and often have children of their own, Erin is single. Yet this did not stop Erin from longing to be a foster parent and help care for children in crisis.
To her surprise, Amber came to Erin’s home within hours of becoming licensed as a foster parent. Obviously, Erin was nervous about the immediacy of the placement, but it did not take long for her and Amber to spark and grow a deep friendship.
What makes Erin’s story so exceptional is also the story of Amber’s biological parents. Despite the domestic struggles that Amber’s parents were going through that caused Amber to be removed, they sincerely loved their daughter. Erin got to know Amber’s parents well and developed a relationship with them during co-parenting because Erin knew that this journey was not just to help Amber, but her parents as well.
Unfortunately, Amber’s parents were not able to reestablish their parenting rights. Naturally, they highly disfavored this decision even leading up to the final court date… Until Erin provided her testimony.
Erin shared how Amber’s life was in her home and under her care. She shared their daily routine; how Amber had been thriving and about the personal growth she had experienced. After Erin’s testimony, Amber’s parents unanimously decided that her life would be better spent with Erin as her mother.
Now the day has finally come for Erin as she takes Amber home as her adopted daughter. Many friends and family members wept with joy as they watched this unfold in the courtroom. Licensing supervisor, Morgan Hicks, later expressed how beautiful it was to see the loving bond between Erin and Amber. They were inseparable.
Erin not only adopted Amber, but also cared for another little girl about the same age who had been placed into foster care. Just a few weeks ago, that little girl was joyously reunited with her family.
We thank the Lord for His grace and provisions during the last six months with Erin and her journey as a foster parent. It is this living Hope, found in Christ and exemplified by Erin’s story, that we desire for each child in crisis in Tampa Bay as we strive to license more Christian foster homes. Imagine lives like this impacted every day! This is our mission at A Door of Hope: to care for the modern-day orphan and to provide a home for every child in crisis.
A Door of Hope Tampa Bay serves at-risk children and families in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. As a non-profit organization, our mission is to mobilize and equip the faith community to rescue, protect, and nurture children in the foster care system.
Пікірлер: 68
Interesting that many people say a lot of negative things about single mothers but when it comes to adopting a child as a single mother everybody finds it great.
This bought tears to my eyes. I am a single woman and I feel God pulling my heartstrings to go into fostering.
@MsSophie
5 жыл бұрын
Me too. Am really praying about this, as I feel God has put it on my heart too. Am planning to do a lot of Bible studies on how God has brought blessings on children who were fostered/adopted (Moses, Joseph, in a sense Jesus) and how those children really blessed those who became their new family.
@OmotEst
5 жыл бұрын
Same here... 🙏
@that_eczema_girl
5 жыл бұрын
You should; I'm single and just received my 1st placement (newborn) 😏
@queenofeverything1313
4 жыл бұрын
Same sis
@sophialindsay1235
3 жыл бұрын
Me too x
I love how this woman created something special from a situation where most women would say "I have no husband no children, what is sense of life?"
I am a single mom of 3 grown kids. But now I am a full time foster parent 3 and 5 years old.
What a beautiful story! God placed this child in your care for a reason just as this!!! God bless you both 5 yrs later. 🥰
I have been a foster parent for almost a year loved your story
I hope she continues to maintain a relationship with the birth family.
Loved that!!!! Thank you so so much for sharing! My aunty has been a foster carer for 13 years ! I think it's my calling in life, I'm single and want to be a mum so much! So happy to have seen this video ♥️♥️
I'm bawling my eyes out and can't imagine what God has in store for me and what child he has waiting for me as I Hopfully start my foster care journey soon
@berrycollins9900
3 жыл бұрын
So simple.
@berrycollins9900
3 жыл бұрын
You are looking real simple and innocent.
@berrycollins9900
3 жыл бұрын
Am so attracted to your beauty.
@berrycollins9900
3 жыл бұрын
I don't mind knowing more about you.
@berrycollins9900
3 жыл бұрын
Hope you don't mind?
Im falling in love with helping families stay together. It i such an amazing place to be and sometimes i don't feel worthy of this calling ♡
This is super motivating 😊😊 I’m ready to start fostering my next kid and then adoption!! Thanks so much for sharing your story!!! Gives me hope!!
That's a beautiful testimony. Thank you for sharing.
This was so good
Thank you
😭beautiful!
i am happy for you and lee. I want to be a foster parent in the future, I feel a pull to do so.
Beautiful!!!
I feel God is leading me to Adopting a kid .
I’m a single mom of one and I’ve wanted to foster/adopt since I was a child. I feel like God is preparing me to foster when I am in a place to.
I would like to be a foster parent ,I’m in the process right now .
What is the maximum age allowed of the foster parent/applicant?
You should go into hairstyling
Are you able to become a single foster parent while working full time?
@beautifulrecovery2337
5 жыл бұрын
This is such a good question I'm a single momma and definitely want to foster and I don't know how to do it all?
@that_eczema_girl
5 жыл бұрын
Yes. I work full time and am in the fostering process.
@yamaina478
5 жыл бұрын
Hi yes you can! Depends on your state what regulations they might have. For example in California the child has to be over 5 yrs old if you work full time. You also have to have a daycare plan for when you are at work. It costs nothing but a bit of time to reach out to a local agency and they will give you more specific information.
@yamaina478
5 жыл бұрын
@@beautifulrecovery2337 yes you can foster even if you are already a single mom and work full time :) many states even cover day care costs.
Pretty good woman love you too
praise God
She is a single woman??? she said it few times.. im a single man, we can raise the kiddo together and even adopt one more
@NunyaBizzzzz
5 жыл бұрын
That's awesome of you. I hope I could find a man like you to do that with. Well good luck on that journey :)
Love you too baby Tony Cincinnati Ohio State Tony ❤❤❤❤
I’m upset that all the adoption agencies near me are religious, I’m an atheist and I feel like my beliefs are holding me back from adopting a child :(
@NB-ky5ol
4 жыл бұрын
They don’t hold adoptions from you if you don’t share their beliefs.
@BunnyH-pq5jt
4 жыл бұрын
N B one of the requirements is I tell them my religious beliefs. I doubt they will give me a baby.
@marcycunningham7035
3 жыл бұрын
Perhaps look into Learning about God
@BunnyH-pq5jt
3 жыл бұрын
@@marcycunningham7035 yeah no, I’m never going back to religion. It’s kinda rude for you to suggest that.
@marzipan2555
3 жыл бұрын
Why note the city/state system?
She is soooo full of herself. this toxic christian savior complex is unfortunately extremely common in foster/adoption circles.
@malayaanderson8222
Жыл бұрын
Not sure where this attitude is coming from, and honestly anyone taking in a child that isn’t there’s is doing something great. It’s more than most are doing, probably even you.
@maze6797
Жыл бұрын
@@malayaanderson8222 This is toxic positivity and it's literally killing children. Not everybody who takes in children is doing something good and brushing off concerns with "they're so selfless and godly!!" only makes you complicit. Even the ones who do it with good intentions tend to cause irreparable harm. You'd know this if you talked to literally any adult who went through the system, rather than relying on the word of the ones who have everything to gain from the system.
Here’s something I don’t understand. If you screw up so bad that your kids are taken away, why should you get another chance? Or multiple chances in some cases. I feel like foster parents are truly a godsend and absolutely amazing people. But, I wouldn’t be able to do it because I couldn’t stand supporting a reunification with a totally messed up and harmful family. It’s easy for families of origin to look like they got it together, but in reality, the situation could remains the same. A mother could let an abusive boyfriend or girlfriend to come back as soon as they get the kids back. I don’t get it. Enough kids slip through the cracks because of high caseloads and lack of available foster parents.
So... Is she looking to get married?