Meet the Maxey Family! Four years ago, Emily and Keith started their foster care journey. This family has welcomed teens in their family and the teens LOVE them as their parents! This amazing couple ensures that the kids get all that they need so they can be successful now and later in life!

Emily shares, "When we first considered foster care, we were looking for a way to give back to our community. As public servants and children of our own we had a hard time finding places to volunteer. That’s when we realized we could open our home and give back through fostering. We wanted to make sure there was a family out there that would treat these children well. A family that included them, let them join sports, go on vacations, make them feel loved and be wanted. So, we became that family!"

Recalling a favorite memory, Emily shares, "There have been so many great memories throughout our years of fostering but recently two times stand out that have meant the most to our family. Our daughter (17) and I were sitting at dinner and she told me, “I’m so happy my brother and I met you guys.” And another time our son (15) after being able to join a baseball team was beaming, and he just kept repeating, “I’m so happy! I’m so happy!” These kids, especially, our teenagers just want normalcy!"

For those who are interested in fostering, Emily shares, "Do not rule out teenagers. They may seem scary, but they can be the best thing that ever happens to your family. They want to be wanted, and honestly it’s one of the most rewarding relationships! Helping these young adults navigate adulthood and reach goals that they thought were unattainable is amazing to watch! They just need someone to believe in them and pour into them!"

To learn more about becoming a foster caregiver, visit heartlandforchildren.org/become or call 863-519-8900 x 289.