Ryan and Kayla North are parents who know firsthand the joys and challenges of welcoming children into their home through foster care and adoption. With two biological children and four adopted, they’ve built a diverse family through an unexpected path. They initially envisioned a more traditional route but felt called by faith to open their doors to those in need.
Driven by a desire to help vulnerable children, the Norths started fostering around ten years ago, eventually welcoming nearly thirty kids into their lives. Today, they share their experience and guidance as co-founders of One Big Happy Home – an organization dedicated to supporting families navigating the complexities of adoption and foster care. They specialize in helping adoptive parents address trauma, behavioral challenges, and attachment issues often faced by children entering new homes.
However, their journey wasn’t solely about fulfilling a benevolent vision. It began with the genuine intention of loving and providing for children. The Norths initially approached foster care with a “rescuer” mindset, but soon realized the depth and intricacy woven into these family stories.
Their work highlights an increasingly urgent need: finding families willing to open their homes and hearts to children in foster care.
“Every Christian should consider their role,” Ryan and Kayla emphasize. Whether that means directly fostering or adopting, or actively supporting families who do – there are countless ways to make a tangible difference. They encourage us to move beyond simply acknowledging the need and instead, become active participants in meeting it.
The Norths stress that effective support goes beyond well-intentioned advice. Foster and adoptive parents often feel overwhelmed and isolated amidst their challenging tasks. Practical help – such as babysitting, meal preparation, running errands, or donating essential items – can provide invaluable respite and emotional support.
Beyond direct assistance, education plays a crucial role. Taking the time to understand trauma’s impact on child development, and familiarizing oneself with sensitive language (like “birth mom” instead of “real mom,” or “child in foster care” instead of “foster kid”) can create more supportive and inclusive environments.
While fostering and adoption demand significant commitment and resources, they offer immense rewards. For those sensing a calling from God to walk this path, the Norths encourage courageously answering that call.
They emphasize that every act of love and service, no matter how small, contributes to building a brighter future for these vulnerable children.
Ultimately, the conversation with Ryan and Kayla is a powerful reminder that responding to the foster care crisis isn’t solely about large-scale systemic changes; it’s about individual hearts opening to make a profound impact in the lives of children who need love, stability, and a sense of belonging.
