“Thank you so much for giving me a brother and sister!”

A Beautiful Adoption Story

Anne and Bradley came to Susan, a Wellroot foster mom, in 2019. When it was determined that reunification wasn’t possible for Anne and Bradley, the search for an adoptive family began. It was within their own community that another foster family, who was open to adoption, was found! Kristy and Kris Manley had a biological son who was classmates with Bradley. Susan connected with the Manley family about possibly fostering and adopting Anne and Bradley, and they were thrilled to get to know the children.  

After speaking to the children’s Wellroot case manager, Marlene Corona, the Manley family transitioned to Wellroot in late 2020 for the additional support that a Child Placement Agency (CPA) like Wellroot can provide to foster and adoption families. Wellroot provides a 24/7 on call system, access to clothing, diapers, school supplies, baby equipment, and a strong volunteer network to offer additional support. Wellroot also provides an enrichment fund that allows each family to provide enrichment activities for the children.

In March 2021, Anne and Bradley were placed with the Manley family. Anne quickly bonded to the Manley family and started calling Kristy “Mom” and Kris “Dad.” Because Bradley was classmates with the Manley’s biological son, Mark, the bond between the two boys quickly grew even stronger. As Marlene visited the home, she could see the children were growing a sense of belonging and loved being a part of the Manley family. After every home visit, Bradley would ask, “so when am I getting adopted?” Last month, the Manleys officially became a family of 5, and Anne and Bradley found permanency, in a loving, compassionate, and nurturing home!

Everyone is so proud of how well the children are doing in their forever home! Mom and Dad beam with pride when sharing how their children are thriving in school. Anne was able to write her name before entering Pre-K and Bradley who was not a big fan of school worked hard to keep straight A’s for the 2021-2022 school year. During a recent home visit, the Manley’s biological son Mark warmed everyone’s heart and he told Marlene, “Thank you so much for giving me a brother and sister!”

This month, as we celebrate Anne and Bradley finding their forever home, our faithful churches and supporters give to the Amazing Grace Offering to impact the lives of children and families, like the Manley family. This offering enables all people Wellroot serves to build resilience and reach their God-given potential through the Healing Power of Family.  Family is more than a last name, genetics, or proximity. Family is essential because we all yearn to feel like we belong to something greater than ourselves. Family is a feeling. A feeling of commitment, belonging, and, most of all, love. It might be easy to take this concept for granted; yet when a family is experiencing a crisis, it’s easy to feel isolated and alone. Fortunately, you can help change that through your Amazing Grace Offering to Wellroot Family Services. Give online or text AG2022 to 41444. 

Immediate Need for Loving Homes

Wellroot believes in the Healing Power of Family. Wellroot envisions a world where every child is raised in a loving, compassionate, and nurturing home. Wellroot’s Foster Care program is a temporary intervention for children while their parents improve their ability to care for their children, with the primary goal of reunification with their birth family. For the children who are not able to be reunited with their biological family, Wellroot helps these children, like Anne and Bradley, find loving and stable homes. Adoption gives permanency to a child by providing them with a forever family.

Wellroot Family Services desperately needs more loving and nurturing homes for children in foster care. Currently, there are 12,000 children in foster care in Georgia, and not enough families for children like Anne and Bradley. Each week, Wellroot has to say “no” over 60 times because there are not enough foster homes. Wellroot is in immediate need for loving homes to temporarily care for children while their parents improve their ability to care for their children. The primary goal of foster care is reunification with their birth family. In Georgia, 52% of the children in foster care are reunified with their families, 23% of the children go live with relatives of guardians, and 14% of the children are adopted from foster care. For the children who are not able to be reunited with their biological family, Wellroot helps these children find loving and stable homes. Adoption gives permanency to a child by providing them with a forever family.

Will you help build happy families? Learn more about fostering at fosternow.org.