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Emily wasn’t expecting to be a foster parent to her nephew Remi. 

But when her sister's mental health struggles led to Remi entering foster care in another state, Emily and her husband JD were determined to bring him into their family. After a yearlong battle with red tape, the kinship placement was approved.

While having Remi home brought immense relief, it also came with unique challenges. 

Emily shoulders great responsibility in navigating the relationship with her sister and her nephew. As Emily puts it, “It's easy to love the kid and be frustrated with the parent. But I know my sister and where we come from. There's more happening that most may not understand.” 

Access to resources for the family has been difficult, too. “Most agencies are overrun and kinship families are not their priority,” says Emily. “We're forced to get by with less.”

That's why Emily is grateful for Foster Village’s support. 

She says Foster Village Northeast KS has provided help through clothing drives, Caregiver Nights Out, and support groups. 

“Those are hugely helpful,” Emily shares. “Most of our friends don’t foster, so we’re not in a community that has done this before. Sometimes they don’t understand, so it’s good to have the support someplace else.”

In this tough season, having a village to rely on has made a difference for this family.