Need for foster care families on the rise

In light of National Foster Care Awareness Month, Iowa KidsNet in Jasper County hopes to bring awareness to the growing need of foster care in the county.

Kevin and Denise Carroll, of rural Jasper County, know firsthand the joys of fostering children, and they also know the fulfillment that comes from adoption. Denise has been a foster parent for 22 years. She said Kevin went into the marriage knowing he’d be a father figure to many.

“He loves it, and he is so consistent with them,” Denise said.

The couple has adopted 11 children who each have unique personalities and interests.

“I have one who is the typical middle child who is the pleaser, I have a girl who is the athletic child who runs track, plays volleyball and does drill team, a 16-year-old boy who wants to go into the marines and who is the protector of the family, and he is a big momma’s boy,” Denise said of just three of her children.

Denise said the household has normal rules that include cleaning, no lying or stealing, but the couple also ensures their children have the chance to be kids.

“We don’t have a strict or tight organized camp — we let them be kids and they can play and ride horses and they get video game privileges,” Denise said.

Denise said she and her husband have witnessed children who were in a not-so good place, who were frightened and shy, and then they started to come out of their shell.

“Riley, my daughter, she came from a dark situation where she was left alone and there was a lot of physical and verbal abuse,” Denise said. “She wouldn’t look you in the eye. Basically we had to gain her trust. She really started to open up and she learned that there was always going to be food on the table and that we would be there for her.”

The Carroll household currently has two foster children and five adoptive children, as the other adoptive children have moved from the home.

Denise said she does encourage families who have thought about fostering or adopting children to take a leap of faith.

“I would say please do it, we need good homes for these kiddos, and yes there are risks involved, but I will say the rewards far out-weigh the risk,” Denise said. “My husband’s favorite quote is, ‘its not always fun but it’s never boring.’”

Denise said one of the best parts of being a foster parent is looking back at the obstacles the children have overcome.

“It warms my heart to see them so happy and healthy and so full of life, and they have goals and they have expectations for themselves and it’s a very proud moment,” she said.

Denise said her experience with Iowa KidsNet has been very positive.

“They have been a good resource and have been able to provide information about my foster kids and adopted kids,” Denise said.

Vivian Willemsen, a recruiter licensing specialist for Iowa KidsNet, said Jasper County has a little more than 30 foster homes so far this year but it’s not enough to meet the need.

“Every other month we are in Newton to hold informational meetings,” Willemsen said.

To learn more about the children up for adoption visit iowakidsnet.com.

Contact Kayla Langmaid at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or klangmaid@newtondailynews.com