Matthew and Chasidy Johnson opened their home and hearts to foster children in January of 2019. Since opening their home, they have fostered several children and adopted them. The Johnsons are very easy to work with and truly care for and want what’s best for any child placed in their home. In the past two years the Johnson family have taken placement of two younger siblings to the children they had adopted in the past. The family is truly an asset to the foster care program and they are deserving of recognition for their work!
When asked what fostering has meant to them for the last several years, their response was “Being a foster parent is the most rewarding thing we have ever done in our lives. Going into this we had no idea what an impact fostering would have on us. We have been blessed to not only form bonds with the children in our home but all the foster families in our area. We are so thankful that God has placed us on this journey to be a safe place for each child in our care.
Ms. De Armas has been an amazing foster parent who cares for her nieces. Working with Ms. De Armas is an absolute pleasure. Her love, patience and dedication are evident in everything she does. She is always kind, dependable, and quick to respond to anything that is needed. Ms. De Armas has been a huge support to the Jefferson region. Ms. DeArmas has been willing to step up and help with emergency placements. Her selflessness is inspiring to anyone she comes across.
Jacob and Alexa Hickman opened their home on November 20, 2025. Mr. and Mrs. Hickman knew they wanted to become foster parents and help children in need. The couple began attending classes to become a non-familial foster home and just as they were completing their training and certification, they were contacted regarding taking relative placement of their medically complex fifteen-year-old cousin, Richard, who needed a home. Jacob and Alexa stepped up and welcomed the boy into their home. The couple began training to master the complexity of feeding tubes and gained knowledge about their placement’s condition. Almost immediately after accepting this placement, Mr. and Mrs. Hickman were asked to take Richard’s siblings, Matthew age seventeen and Emma age nine. Without hesitation, they made room for the siblings in their home and lives. This family has provided the special care these children need to thrive and overcome adversities that are seen and those that are not seen. Jacob and Alexa have introduced all three children to exciting new life experiences such as camping, swimming, boating, community and church activities. Through these experiences, the children have been given opportunities to build confidence, develop relationships, discover new interests, and simply enjoy being children. Most importantly, the children have made remarkable progress since entering the Hickman’s care.
In addition, the Hickman family recognizes it truly takes a village to support children with complex needs. They have not hesitated to build a strong support system around their family, including having a trusted friend become an approved respite provider, specifically to help them care for their medically complex placement. Jacob and Alexa’s willingness to utilize respite is a strength of their foster parenting. The couple understands that accepting support helps them remain healthy, present, and an effective caregiver while ensuring the child receives consistent, safe and nurturing care. Their friend has not only become a respite provider for the family, but is now interested in becoming a fully certified foster home to support other youth in out-of-home care. By welcoming others into their support network and helping their friend see the value of serving foster youth, the Hickmans are strengthening their own family while also helping expand the community of caregivers available to children in need.
In a short amount of time, Mr. and Mrs. Hickman have shown extraordinary commitment to three children who needed someone to step forward. Jacob and Alexa did more than open their home—they opened their hearts and changed the trajectory of three young lives. This young couple have been a wonderful example of why the relative and fictive kin program exists and the potential success for children who can receive the love, care, and support while staying within the family. Their compassion, courage, and dedication make them truly deserving of the 2026 Kinship Parent/Family of the Year Award.
The Whisman’s are a current fictive kin foster home with placement of one child. The family initially opened as a non-familial foster home in 2018 and successfully continued to provide care until their adoptions were finalized in 2023. They have reopened now for the second time as a fictive kin foster home, demonstrating their continued commitment to supporting children and helping keep siblings together.
The family is kind, caring, patient, attentive, and responsive to the children’s individual needs. They provide a nurturing, stable, and supportive home environment and are committed to promoting the children’s well-being and development. The family also encourages the children to participate in extracurricular activities, providing opportunities for socialization, personal growth, and positive experiences.
Overall, the family has demonstrated a strong commitment to caring for children and supporting their needs. Their willingness to reopen their home to provide a safe and loving environment for children is commendable and reflects their compassion, dedication, and family-centered approach.
In April of 2020 Jason and Nataliya Hans gained a wonderful family member when they were granted custody of 6-year-old boy. He was the birth son of Jason’s former wife who had died tragically. No relatives could be identified for placement and the Hans family immediately sought custody. They did not hesitate to step in and provide care for the child. The home went on to become approved as a non-familial Kinship Foster Home in March 2021. Due to the circumstances of a criminal court case, termination of parental rights could not be accomplished on the child’s biological father until this year. The Hans family’s advocacy for the child goes far beyond providing permanency. Mr. Hans has introduced multiple bills in Kentucky Legislation related to the child’s case to make important changes in state law. After a very long wait, the case is finally on track for adoption. I feel that Jason and Nataliya Hans are very deserving of being the Kinship Family of the Year.
The Garcia family has been an active DCBS familial foster home since November of 2024. Foster parents, Sara and Esmeit Garcia, were approved in order to take placement of Esmeit’s half-sister, Victoria Nuricumbo, who has been placed in their home since. Sara and Esmeit are amazing foster parents, who have worked diligentl to ensure that all of Victoria’s needs are met. When a series of diagnoses and physical health issues led to Victoria becoming medically complex, the family worked hard to become approved as a medically complex home, in order to better meet her needs. They have not faltered once, in ensuring that she has made every appointment, and seen every doctor necessary in order for her to live a happy and healthy life. When you step into their home, you can tell that it is a loving and nurturing space. DCBS and Victoria are lucky to have a familial home like them!
Johnnie and Tyler have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing stability, unconditional support, and lasting relationships for a child in their home, making them deserving of recognition as our region's 2026 Kinship Parent/Family of the Year.
Initially approved as a non-familial basic foster home in 2024, Johnnie and Tyler welcomed a child into their home and provided a safe, nurturing environment. When the child was successfully reunified with his mother, their commitment did not end. Rather than stepping away, they continued to serve as a positive support system for both the child and his mother, demonstrating that their dedication extended beyond the requirements of foster care.
After closing their foster home in 2025, Johnnie and Tyler once again answered the call when the child re-entered out-of-home care. They reopened their home as a fictive foster home to ensure he could return to the familiar environment and caregivers who had become family to him. Throughout this journey, they have remained patient, compassionate, and steadfast, even during some of the child's most difficult moments. Johnnie and Tyler continued to welcome him with understanding, consistency, and unwavering support rather than giving up on him.
Their ability to see beyond challenging behaviors and focus on the child's needs has provided him with the stability, belonging, and encouragement necessary to continue moving forward. They have shown that family is defined not only by biology but also by commitment, perseverance, and unconditional care.
I am honored to nominate Jodelle and Matt Johnson of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, for Regional Kinship Family of the Year. Officially since November 4, 2024, Jodelle and Matt have lovingly cared for their four grandchildren—Sterling, Everleigh, Layla, and Isabella—providing them with stability, structure, advocacy, and unconditional love.
What makes the Johnson family exceptional is the level of commitment they demonstrate every day. Jodelle owns Hoptown Nutrition, and Matt works as a maintenance manager at a local factory. Despite their professional responsibilities, they consistently prioritize the needs of their grandchildren. Jodelle has often taken the children to her business during early morning hours, even transforming a small area into a classroom-like learning space so they can continue their educational routines while she works.
Jodelle and Matt are intentional about every aspect of the children’s well-being. They ensure the children receive regular medical, dental, and vision care, encourage positive educational experiences, and support their participation in school and community activities. They also take great pride in making sure the children are dressed beautifully and appropriately for holidays, special occasions, and events, often coordinating their outfits as a family.
Jodelle’s dedication extends to nutrition and family connection. She prepares nutritious meals daily, makes an effort to incorporate balanced foods and the four food groups, and ensures the family sits together for meals. These routines provide the children with consistency, nourishment, and a strong sense of family.
The Johnsons’ commitment has not gone unnoticed. Community members have expressed admiration for Jodelle’s organization, consistency, and firm but loving approach to raising these children. Her dedication reflects the pride she takes in creating a positive and nurturing environment for her grandchildren.
Most importantly, Jodelle and Matt have ensured that these four siblings can remain together while growing up in a home filled with love, structure, encouragement, and stability. They have embraced kinship care not simply as a responsibility, but as an opportunity to give their grandchildren the security and childhood they deserve.
Jodelle and Matt Johnson exemplify the heart of kinship care—family stepping forward, children remaining connected, and love becoming action. For these reasons, I wholeheartedly recommend them for Regional Kinship Family of the Year.
Sierra and Luke became Kinship foster parents in 2024 to take Sierra’s two nieces from another state. Their journey was not always easy. The family was tasked with parenting children who had experienced trauma, while navigating the unique challenges of providing care for children who they are related to, within the rules and regulations of the foster care system in two different states. But Sierra and Luke showed unwavering love commitment to the children from day one. As a result, the girls have flourished. Since entering the Grise home, they have been able to achieve educational and developmental milestones that no one anticipated they would. Today, Luke and Sierra have been able to obtain guardianship of the girls. Their experience with kinship care opened their eyes to the need for more foster families in their community and as a result they are currently in the process of opening their foster home to accept non-familial children as well. We are so thankful to have them.
Caleb and Kelsey Murry have been foster parents for the Eastern Mt. Region since 2022. Their very first placement was a medically complex infant. This family instantly said yes without any hesitation. Despite the difficulties they faced, this family never showed any fear, doubt, or resistance. Since then, they have adopted this child. The Murry’s went on and accepted another medically complex infant, which again, said yes without hesitation.
Their home is not just a place of care but also a place of healing, resilience, and unwavering commitment, especially in the face of medical complexity.
This family has opened their hearts and home to children with significant medical needs, stepping into a role that requires not only compassion, but advanced advocacy, coordination, and constant vigilance. Mr. and Mrs. Murry manage medications, appointments, therapies, and unexpected emergencies with grace and determination, all while ensuring each child feels safe, loved, and valued.
What sets this family apart is their ability to see beyond diagnoses. They do not define children by their medical conditions. They celebrate their personalities, milestones, and potential. Whether it’s attending countless specialist visits, learning new medical procedures, or advocating fiercely within systems, they approach every challenge with strength and purpose.
Despite the demands, their home is filled with warmth, stability, and joy. They create normalcy in situations that are anything but normal by celebrating birthdays, encouraging growth, and building lasting connections. Their patience and dedication provide children not only with care, but with dignity and hope.
This family embodies what foster parenting is truly about: showing up fully, loving unconditionally, and going above and beyond—especially when it’s hardest. Their commitment to medically complex children is nothing short of remarkable, and their impact is life-changing.
Marnita Skinner began her foster care journey as a relative/fictive kin DCBS foster parent. Marnita transitioned into a basic DCBS foster home and hit the ground running. Marnita Skinner goes above and beyond to always ensure our youth and families are supported. Marnita does not shy away from accepting youth with complex needs. Marnita Skinner works well with our high-acuity youth, by supporting them at their most vulnerable time. Marnita is a great advocate that is always willing to answer the phone at any hour. Jefferson Service Region really appreciates the open arms and kindness that Ms. Skinner brings to the foster care community.
Tricia Partin and Jerica Hazelbaker became certified foster parents in March of 2023. They currently have placement of seven foster children including two sets of siblings. They finalized their first adoption in October of 2025 with the second one in the next few months. They truly exemplify what it means to lead with love, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to children and families. Their journey as foster/adoptive parents is defined not only by the care they’ve given to the children in their home but also by the impact they’ve made across their community through collaboration, creativity, and heart.
From the beginning, Tricia and Jerica have gone above and beyond to advocate for the best interests of every child placed in their care regardless of how long the child is in their home. They take initiative to ensure each child’s emotional and developmental needs are met, often working hand in hand with social workers, therapists, and daycare to create individualized plans for success. Their ability to communicate openly and respectfully with professionals has made them trusted partners in the child welfare system, people others turn to for insight, support, and encouragement.
Tricia and Jerica also make a lasting difference beyond their own home. They have become strong advocates for foster care and adoption awareness, sharing their experiences to encourage other families to open their hearts to foster and adopting. Their willingness to mentor new foster families, answer questions, and offer emotional support demonstrates their deep commitment to strengthening the larger community of care.
Perhaps most remarkable is how seamlessly they work together as a team. Tricia and Jerica model partnership, supporting one another through challenges, balancing responsibilities, and celebrating successes together. Their unity provides stability for the children they love and serves as a beautiful example of what it means to parent with shared purpose. Their daughter Charley has also shown such amazing compassion and awareness by being the best big sister!
Through advocacy, initiative, creativity, and collaboration, Tricia and Jerica have touched countless lives. Their home radiates acceptance, structure, laughter, and understanding. They represent the very best of what adoptive families can be, resourceful, compassionate, and deeply devoted to creating lasting change.
It is with great admiration and gratitude that I nominate Tricia and Jerica for the 2026 Foster Family of the Year Award. Their dedication not only transforms the lives of the children they welcome into their home but also strengthens the entire child welfare community.
Timothy and Jean Slaughter, esteemed foster parents in Northeastern DCBS, embarked on their journey to foster care with determination, becoming an approved foster and adoptive home in May 2006. Over nearly 19 years, they have opened their hearts and home to approximately 125 children in foster care, making an indelible mark on their lives. Timothy and Jean Slaughter are exemplary advocates for the most vulnerable children, fully embodying the core values and mission of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS).
Timothy and Jean Slaughter have built an impressive reputation as a highly sought-after foster home in the Northeastern region. Without hesitation, they step up to provide a haven for foster children during critical times, ensuring that these kids not only have a safe place to stay but also remain close to their families, preserving those vital connections.
Timothy and Jean Slaughter exemplify a profound commitment to meeting the heterogeneous needs of each child placed in their care, creating a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, valued, and empowered. Their effectiveness as foster parents shines through in the children's remarkable ability to adapt and thrive in their educational and therapeutic journeys. As passionate advocates for at-risk children, they wholeheartedly support the mission of reunification, providing essential resources that facilitate smooth transitions for both children and parents. Their unwavering dedication leaves a profound impact on the lives they touch, showcasing the power of love and commitment in foster care.
Sharon Secord became an approved DCBS foster home in March 2023. During our first home visit, she restated what she had said in her home study: That she was only interested in fostering teens. Ms. Secord had settled in Kentucky after moving from Detroit MI, where she had raised two children of her own who are now adults. She decided to become a foster parent, taking placements aged 14-18. She quickly became an extremely valued asset to DCBS Foster Care. Sharon’s acceptance scale is very accommodating, having a substantial list of diagnoses and behaviors that she was willing to work with. Her first placement was a male teen who had struggled to maintain placement in foster care.
That first placement was adopted by Sharon at age 17, just months after being placed. Since then, she has consistently accepted additional teens, including her adopted son’s biological brother who he had been separated from. The foster parent is very proactive with assisting her placements in becoming active and adjusted individuals. She ensures they attend school and helps them find employment that does not interfere with their education. She focuses on the children’s futures and gives them the support and direction for them to become successful adults. She works with the teens to get their driver’s licenses and helps them to develop independent living skills. Ms. Secord’s foster placements experience travel (often for the first time), going on vacations and to visit her family residing in Texas and Michigan. The extended family is very supportive of her fostering and are welcoming of her placements. Sharon Secord has shown and ability to provide stable, successful placements for hard-to-place children, keeping them out of non-traditional and residential settings. This can’t be appreciated enough and I feel she should be considered for the region’s Foster Parent/Family of the Year Award.
Kristi and Joey Chesser have been resource foster parents in Bullitt County since February 6th, 2024. In the short time that they have been an open home, the Chesser family have been an outstanding resource for the Salt River Trail region and have assisted in providing high quality care for our teenagers, sibling groups, and high acuity youth.
The Chesser family quickly became a Care Plus foster home after opening to ensure the best care for all placements they receive and are now an Advanced Care Plus home. They have received a total of 11 placements since opening, 8 of which have been designated as Care Plus. They have taken placements as short term only to keep them from a Non-Traditional setting and continued to foster them passed the short-term time frame if no safety risks were presented.
They have maintained placement of sibling groups and children ranging in age from 1-15 years old. The home currently has four children placed in their home, including a sibling group of three. They have maintained placement of the sibling group since February of 2024 and recently received their newest placement in November of 2025.
All four of their current placements are designated as Care Plus. The home is highly supportive of all placements that have entered their home. They have shown flexibility by allowing children they agreed to as short-term placement to stay with them and have worked well with the Cabinet on placement timeframes. They have advocated for each of their placements receiving the best possible care, including notifying the Cabinet of Care Plus needs, advocating for teenage youth to be included in conversations and notified of their options, and participating in team meetings, case planning, and court hearings regarding next steps for children in their care.
They have shown initiative and self-sufficiency by going out of their way to find the best service providers, and the ability to handle abnormal behaviors from children without outside intervention. They have shown an ability to parent out of home care youth and think outside the box on how to discipline children with different needs, trauma responses, and personality traits.
They work in partnership with CHFS, community partners, and biological families for the best care of our children. It is highly recommended by this SSC that the Chesser family be nominated as foster parents of the year for their actions, advocacy, and outstanding support for our foster youth in the years of 2025-2026.
Nathaniel and Betty Yoder were selected as the Cumberland Service Region Foster Family of the Year for 2026 because they consistently demonstrate what it means to provide safe, stable, and compassionate care to children and families in need. Their home is more than a placement; it is a place where children feel valued, understood, and supported during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Nathaniel and Betty approach fostering with patience, empathy, and a deep commitment to each child’s well-being. Whether caring for children with complex behavioral needs, sibling groups, or youth experiencing their first out-of-home placement, they remain calm, flexible, and solution-focused. They take the time to learn each child’s history, strengths, and triggers, and they tailor their parenting approach to meet those individual needs.
Beyond meeting basic care requirements, Nathaniel and Betty go above and beyond to create a sense of normalcy and belonging. They ensure children stay connected to their culture, school, and community whenever possible. They advocate strongly within team meetings, medical and educational settings, and court processes, always keeping the child’s best interest at the center of every decision. Their communication with case managers and service providers is consistent, respectful, and proactive, making them a reliable and trusted partner in the child welfare system.
One of their greatest strengths is their ability to support reunification while maintaining a positive and respectful relationship with biological families. They encourage healthy connections, assist with visitation transitions, and model appropriate co-parenting when appropriate. Their understanding that fostering is about supporting the entire family system sets them apart.
Additionally, Nathaniel and Betty are leaders within the foster care community. They willingly participate in foster parent retention events, share resources, and offer guidance based on their experiences. Their willingness to step in during emergencies and accept placements on short notice has provided critical support to the region during times of high need.
Nathaniel and Betty Yoder exemplify dedication, resilience, and heart. Their impact extends far beyond their home, positively influencing children, families, and professionals across the Cumberland Service Region. For these reasons, they are truly deserving of being recognized as Foster Family of the Year for 2026.
Angela and Rickie Keese were approved as basic foster parents on March 17, 2025. The Keese family has 3 biological daughters of their own. Since being approved, the Keese family has provided foster care for 18 children. They are currently providing foster care for 4 children, 3 of which are a sibling set. The Keese family accepted placement of a HAY child shortly after being approved. The placement was disrupted approximately a month and a half later due to behaviors. Mr. and Ms. Keese report that they have maintained daily phone contact with the child and they are working with the child’s social service workers to bring her back to their home.
Ms. Keese reported that “we were new. We didn’t have experience or enough training. We feel we are more prepared now as we have a better understanding of behaviors and triggers. We are her family, and she is ours. I can’t imagine our lives without her in it.” The Keese family is also currently in the process of adopting a teen who was placed in their home. Angela has shared her personal phone number with other military families to provide assistance with navigating school enrollments and other issues. Angela has also volunteered time to sit on the guest panel for session 6 of the NTDC training to offer encouragement to upcoming foster parents to foster sibling sets and teens.
Dave and Berniece Trobaugh have dedicated an extraordinary 50 years of their lives to serving others as foster parents, demonstrating a level of compassion, commitment, and selflessness. They reside in Monroe County, in Two Rivers Service Region. Over the course of five decades, the Trobaugh’s have opened their home to countless children in need. They have cared for sibling groups, welcomed teenagers who are often the hardest to place, and stepped in during urgent situations—ensuring that no child was left without a safe place to sleep, even if only for a single night. Their willingness to say “yes” when others could not has made an immeasurable difference in the lives of vulnerable children.
In addition to fostering, Dave and Berniece have also adopted children from foster care, providing not just temporary refuge, but permanent love and stability. Their home has been more than a placement—it has been a foundation for healing, growth, and hope.
Their impact extends far beyond the time children spend in their care. Many of the young people they have fostered, now adults, continue to maintain strong, positive relationships with them. Some of those relationships stem back 40 years ago. These individuals still turn to the Trobaugh’s for guidance, advice, and support—a testament to the lasting trust and love they have built.
Dave and Berniece Trobaugh have been invaluable assets to their community and the Two Rivers region. Their lifelong service has strengthened families, uplifted children, and inspired those around them. Their legacy is not measured simply in years, but in the countless lives they have changed for the better.
For their unwavering dedication, compassion, and profound impact, Dave and Berniece Trobaugh are highly deserving of recognition for being outstanding foster parents.
Michael and Melissa Enfusse are an Advanced Medically Complex foster and adoptive home. The Enfusse family opened their home in 2016. During this time, they have had numerous OOHC placements and have supported children in achieving permanency including multiple adoptions.
Their nomination for this award recognizes an exceptional adoptive family whose unwavering commitment, compassion, and dedication have made a lasting difference in the lives of children and families. Through their partnership with the agency and birth families, they demonstrate the importance of collaboration, respect, and a shared commitment to each child’s well-being and future.
They provide a loving, supportive, and nurturing home where children’s individual needs are understood and valued. They go above and beyond to meet the needs of the children in their care, navigate complex challenges, and ensure each child receives the support and attention they deserve. Their dedication to permanency reflects their belief that every child deserves stability, security, and a family to call their own.
They also recognize the importance of maintaining sibling groups and preserving meaningful family connections, understanding that these relationships are an important part of a child’s identity and lifelong well-being. This includes advocating for placement of a sibling group, once placed in separate homes, to be placed together in their home in efforts to reunite the siblings and maintain connections.
In addition to the exceptional care they provide, this family generously shares their knowledge, experience, and encouragement with other foster and adoptive parents. They are always willing to mentor and support fellow families, serving as a valuable resource and an inspiring example within the foster and adoptive community.
For their extraordinary dedication, compassionate care, commitment to permanency, and willingness to support children through achieving permanency, we proudly honor this outstanding adoptive family. Their actions embody the true meaning of being an adoptive family and unconditional love for children.
Katie and Zachary Burgy-Vanhoose began their foster care journey in October 2023 as a concurrent home. Katie and Zachary go above and beyond to make sure the children in their home are safe and well taken care of. Katie and Zachary support reunification with biological families and wish to maintain family connections. Katie and Zachary adopted their son in March 2026. Katie and Zachary go above and beyond to ensure their home is always in good standing with DCBS policies and procedures. Katie and Zachary advocate for the children in their home and meet their needs to best of their ability. Jefferson Service Region really appreciates Katie and Zachary for opening their home and giving children a safe and stable home.
First of all, no amount of words can truly capture how AMAZING this foster/adoptive family is, but I will try. Bryan and Angela Smith became DCBS foster parents in 2018, answering a calling to help children and families. Already parents to young Eli and Kate, they welcomed four children through foster care and adopted their daughter Nora in May 2021.
In October 2021, they welcomed little Donnie, who was just 11 days younger than Nora (basically twins!). Donnie had experienced neglect early in life, and the Smiths gave him the patience, consistency, and love he needed to thrive. They adopted him in August 2023. The Smiths maintain a close bond with Donnie’s extended family members/siblings, celebrating Donnie’s birthday together each year.
That same year, the Smiths welcomed 17-year-old Taylor. They supported her as she extended her commitment and moved into her own apartment while attending NKU. Taylor still visits often and will always be part of their family. Their commitment to her did not end when she moved out.
The Smiths closed their home in July 2024, but continued offering respite care. In early spring of 2025, they learned of an eight year old little boy who was part of a larger sibling group, that needed an adoptive home preferably in Northern Kentucky where he could remain close to his siblings (he was previously 100 miles away from his only known home). Once again, they opened their hearts and home, and felt they were meant to be his adoptive family. They adopted Jordan in June 2026, bringing their family to five children at home (plus Taylor “unofficially”, who is now twenty-one!).
What makes Bryan and Angela extraordinary is not the number of children they have welcomed, but the way they love and support them. They honor children's connections to their birth families and recognize that adoption does not erase a child's history or important relationships. Angela often reminds others that while adoption is filled with an abundance of love, it also comes with loss and grief.
Even when they cannot accept additional placements, they continue showing up. They provide respite when other families need help. Angela has offered to welcome NTP youth for showers, meals, games, or simply a safe place to spend time. She recently stocked up on personal care supplies to make them feel comfortable. She also helps recruit foster families and serves as an official foster parent mentor. Beyond that, Angela is known in her community as someone others can reach out to for advice and support when it involves children in tough situations.
I have had the privilege of knowing the Smiths for eight years, and I genuinely cannot think of a single complaint about this family. They are compassionate, dependable, and endlessly generous with their time and hearts. I know they will continue to make a difference for children for a long time to come.
Bryan and Angela don't just foster children—they build lifelong relationships, embrace birth families, and continue supporting kids even when they aren't actively fostering. They understand that adoption is not simply a legal milestone; it is a lifelong promise to love, support, and belong. I cannot imagine a family more deserving of Adoptive Family of the Year.
I recommend Cody and Brittany Ward for Adoptive Family of the Year for their sustained commitment to helping their children experience belonging, stability, and respect. The family started their journey because they wanted to make a difference in a child’s life. They wanted to be able to provide a safe place where they could feel loved, valued and have a chance to just be a kid no matter the length of time with them.
Throughout preparation and the transition to adoption, the caregivers worked to understand the children’s experiences and individual needs. They developed practical support for school, emotional well-being, and daily routines, and recognized that these needs could continue or change after finalization. They are aware of additional supports that are available if or when needed to support their adopted children. They also make any routine accommodations necessary to meet their children’s needs.
The family’s approach to the children’s histories is especially meaningful. They speak respectfully about birth relatives, support safe and appropriate connections, and allow questions about adoption without treating them as disloyalty. The family believes it’s important to honor their adopted children’s story and the people who are part of it. They allow their aunt and great-aunt to receive pictures and updates and they openly share their adoption story with them in an age-appropriate way. They understand that a child can love an adoptive family and also grieve other relationships.
Their commitment is also evident in ordinary family life. They listen to the children’s preferences, include their interests in family plans, and encourage participation without expecting a particular emotional response. They want every child to know that no matter where they’ve come from or where they start that they can be the change.
I recommend Cody and Brittany Ward because their actions demonstrate an enduring commitment to the children as whole people. Their example reflects adoptive parenting that continues beyond a court date and makes belonging something children can experience in everyday life.
Since becoming licensed foster parents in 2023, the Anderson family have fostered multiple children and have completed one adoption. This family is a medically complex home and has taken in children with extensive needs. As foster parents, Jeremy and Ellen provide the children in their care with safety, stability, compassion, and a loving home.
The family consistently advocates for the needs of children in their care, ensuring their voices are heard and they receive the services and support needed to thrive. Their advocacy extends beyond their home, as they are consistent supporters of all children in out-of-home care by working toward policy changes that improve outcomes for children.
This fall, The Andersons, along with their church, took the initiative to renovate the visitation room at the Richmond DCBS office, creating a more welcoming and child-friendly space for children and families to spend time together.
Through their dedication to children, commitment to advocacy, and generosity toward others, the Anderson Family exemplifies the heart of foster parenting and strive to make lifelong lasting difference in the lives of children and families they serve.
Stephen and Cara Kramer have been nominated for Adoptive Family of the Year for Salt River Trail Service Region. The Kramers have demonstrated their dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to children and their families. For the past 10 years, Stephen and Cara have opened their hearts and home to children in foster care, providing a safe, loving, and supportive environment for every child who comes through their door.
Throughout their fostering journey, they have cared for several children and witnessed reunification of families. They have been a helping hand to children as they work toward permanency. Their willingness to love and care for children while supporting their individual journeys demonstrates the true meaning of foster care and the importance of putting each child's needs first.
In addition to their years of fostering, Stephen and Cara have adopted two children and are raising three biological children. Their family reflects the belief that love is not limited by biology but is built through commitment, patience, understanding, and unconditional support. They strive to ensure that every child in their home feels valued, accepted, and loved.
Stephen and Cara go above and beyond to give their children every opportunity to thrive. They work to provide not only for their children's everyday needs but also the encouragement, stability, and experiences that help them grow and reach their full potential. Their dedication extends beyond simply opening their home; they open their hearts and make a lasting investment in the lives of the children they serve.
Ten years of fostering represents countless acts of kindness, sacrifice, flexibility, and love. Stephen and Cara have made a difference not only in the lives of the children they have welcomed into their home but also in the lives of the staff members they have worked with along the way. Their willingness to step up and their selflessness in helping others during times of need are truly remarkable.
Stephen and Cara Kramer exemplify what it means to be an adoptive and foster family. Their compassion, generosity, and commitment to ensuring children feel safe, supported, and loved make them truly deserving of recognition as Adoptive Family of the Year.
Aaron and Amy Caldwell have served as DCBS foster parents since 2019, providing a loving, safe, and nurturing environment for children in need of care. Throughout their years of service, they have fostered numerous children and demonstrated a strong commitment to meeting each child’s individual needs. In addition to fostering, the Caldwells’ have consistently supported other foster families by providing respite care and willingly offering assistance whenever needed. They are also the adoptive parents of a four-year-old girl who was placed in their home three years ago. During this time, they have provided her with consistent care, love, and stability, welcoming her as a valued and permanent member of their family. Through their dedication to fostering, adoption, and supporting fellow foster families, the Caldwells’ exemplify the compassion, commitment, and generosity that are essential to caring for children and strengthening foster families.
Mr. and Mrs. Abney were selected for the 2026 Adoptive Family of the Year Award because of their dedication to providing a loving, stable, and supportive home for children in foster care. Throughout their time as foster parents, they have consistently demonstrated how much they genuinely care about the children placed in their home.
When the family initially became foster parents, adoption was not their primary goal. However, they remained open to the possibility of providing a permanent home for a child in their care. In March 2026, the family finalized the adoption of two boys, ages 2 and 12. The youngest had been in their care since infancy. The family shared that they never anticipated their decision to foster would ultimately lead to adopting two children.
The family remains actively involved in their children’s lives and consistently advocates for their medical and developmental needs. They are attentive to concerns and work to ensure the children receive the appropriate care, services, and support they need.
Even after adopting, the family has continued fostering and opening their home to other children in need. In August 2026, Mrs. Abney also published a book titled Leaving Home, which tells the story of a young girl entering foster are and highlights the challenges children may face during this transition.
The family’s willingness to open their home, advocate for their children, and continue making a difference in the lives of children in foster care makes them deserving of recognition as the 2026 Adoptive Family of the Year.
Chad and Taylor began their lives together in 2010. From the beginning they knew that adoption would be part of their story. Taylor was adopted by her stepfather, and as a young girl would play that she was adopting her baby dolls. The couple began their fostering journey in Metcalfe County in 2012. They fostered eleven children from 2012 to 2019 and were a medically complex home as well. During this time, they were blessed to adopt their three sons through foster care. After their third adoption in 2019, they felt their family was complete and were ready to close their home. In 2022, Chad and Taylor were ready to grow their family again, and felt a little girl would make their family complete. They reopened, and a brother and sister were placed with them. After four long years, they were able to finally complete their family with their adoption.
Kentucky's Just in Time Training is a web based service program designed to connect foster parents, kinship or other caregivers with training, peer experts and other resources. Questions are answered and practical solutions to care for children are discussed - all from the comfort of your home or office.
If you have difficulty accessing any material on this site, please contact us in writing and we will work with you to make the information available. You can direct your request to JITSupport@USF.edu.
Hotline Number: 1-877-597-2331