Foster Care Overview

HOPE STARTS HERE: Understanding Foster Care and How to Get Involved. 

Families are Needed!!
Thousands of children in North Carolina enter the foster care system each year, and range in age from infants to 18 years old. All foster children have unique backgrounds, experiences, personalities, strengths and needs. Some children in foster care require extensive care for physical or emotional handicaps and disabilities. Sometimes it becomes necessary to remove children from their homes. Maybe the home is not safe, maybe the caregiver could not care for them, or maybe they were abandoned... it does happen.

We need families who can provide one or more of the following options when a child comes into care:

Foster Homes
A temporary living arrangement for children, who has been abused, neglected or abandoned. It's a place where a child can feel safe, grow and develop, while enabling the child's parents to learn to cope with family difficulties. Length of stay varies with each unique situation. Foster parents can choose to care for one or more children.

Respite Care
When the primary foster family needs temporary relief for vacations, short-term illness, family emergency and/or self-care, then another licensed foster family will step in briefly.

Adoptive Homes
If reunification is not successful for children in foster care, then the goal for the child may change to adoption or custody given to another caretaker. Foster parents may be considered as adoptive parents if their foster child becomes available for adoption.

For further information, contact:

Billi Littlejohn, Licensing Social Worker, Email: blittlejohn@hendersoncountync.gov, phone: 828-694-6252

Children currently waiting for adoption:

Below, we invite you to meet a group of wonderful children here in Henderson County, NC who are currently awaiting the opportunity to join a loving, permanent family. Each child has their own unique strengths, dreams, and personality, and we are honored to share a little about them with you.

If you feel inspired to learn more, we hope you’ll explore their profiles and consider whether your family might be the place where one of these children can truly belong.

Zion

Zion is a 14-year-old bi-racial male. Zion has a very silly/bubbly personality once he gets to know you. He loves listening to music, hanging out with friends, playing basketball, and playing video games.  Zion while listening to music will often sing/rap out loud and dance at the same time to be silly. Zion also really has an interest in shoes and clothing as well when it comes to Air Jordans or Nike Air Forces. Zion is a great kid who would do well with a family who may have interest in basketball or other sports. He would do well with a family who can be involved with Zion’s hobbies such as playing sports, going to concerts, etc. Zion would likely do well with a family that could expose Zion to positive influences in the community through sports and/or other extracurricular activities.

O'Rion

O’Rion is a kind, generous, and playful 13-year-old male. He likes to read, skate, and ride his bike. He also enjoys playing games on his Nintendo Switch. O'Rion loves going to the movies and his favorites are scary movies. He excels academically and has positive relationships with his teachers and peers at school. He really enjoys spending quality time with the people who are important to him and is looking for a family who can spend a lot of one-on-one time with him. O'Rion needs a family who is warm and supportive. His ideal caregivers would be very active in his life, spending a lot of time together at home and in the community. 

Micaiah

Micaiah is an 8-year-old female. She likes going to church and serves as acolyte. She enjoys singing and listening to music. She likes to do arts and crafts. She has enjoyed being a cheerleader. Micaiah loves animals. She is a deep thinker and will ask lots of questions to help her with her situation/surroundings. She enjoys feeling like a part of the family and being included in family activities, traditions, and vacations. It is very important for Micaiah to be able to stay in touch with her biological siblings, including phone calls and in person visitation, when possible. She will do well in a family that is active in church. She would thrive in a family that is flexible and patient with her regarding school, as she has some struggles in school.

Kaydee

Kaydee is an active, kind, and creative 16-year-old female. She loves art and especially enjoys scrapbooking to document her favorite memories. Kaydee hopes to pursue a creative career, such as carpentry. She likes going on outings in the community, including to the zoo and amusement parks. Kaydee also likes to stay physically active. She participates in dance and exercise classes, which she really enjoys. She loves upbeat, fun, pop music. Kaydee has expressed a desire for a permanent, loving home with caregivers who will ensure she is a fully included and valued member of the family. Kaydee needs caregivers who will be attentive to her emotional needs and support her creative interests.

Carolyn

Carolyn is a beautiful, bubbly, 5-year-old girl with blonde hair, blue eyes and wears cute glasses.  She is super smart and loves dress up and Paw Patrol.  She has a great personality, is very engaging with adults, and makes friends easily.  She will start kindergarten in the fall and is looking forward to “big girl” school.  Right now, Carolyn is in a therapeutic placement to assist her with some behaviors and is responding well to a stay-at-home parent.  Carolyn has a younger brother and an uncle who it would be ideal for her to remain connected with.  Her biological parents are still involved in her life as well even though they will not be her primary caregivers. The ideal home for Carolyn would be open to fostering those connections in a safe and healthy manner.

Railynn

Railynn is a cute, spunky 13-year-old girl with long blonde hair and hazel eyes. She wears glasses for astigmatism.  Railynn likes to read, write and enjoys being creative, making crafts. She is currently in the 7th grade and has an IEP to assist her with being successful in her educational setting.   Railynn does well in school.  Railynn is a sweet girl who has a history of trauma and an adoptive family for her would need to be trauma-informed, very patient, loving and nurturing.

Madison

Madison is a kind, helpful, sweet, 14-year-old girl. She is currently in the 7th grade and does struggle maintaining average grades in school. She does well test taking but struggles with homework and turning in assignments. She was a part of the school’s volleyball team and enjoyed that activity. She is open to trying new sports and activities as well. She has made friends at school and gets along very well with others. Madison does well in a home with other children, either boys or girls, but would also do well in a home where she is the only child. She loves animals and does very well with all types of pets. She has no known allergies. She can be a picky eater, and her favorite food is tacos. Madison also really loves candy- 3 Musketeers and Twix are two of her favorites. She is overall compliant and does well finishing tasks that are asked of her. Madison enjoys video games and has a Nintendo Switch. She is a sweet girl who has expressed the desire to be adopted.