AdoptUSKids is sharing stories from youth who have experienced foster care and their adoptive families.
Through real-life experiences, challenges, and joys, these profiles highlight the heart of the adoptive journey. This month, we hear about one family’s steps to healing and growth.
Taylor, Kelin, and Nick tell their story
“Taylor doesn’t only support my success, she surrounds me with opportunities and pushes me to be a better athlete, a better leader, a better student, and a better person,” shared Kelin, 17.
Taylor was a young mother of two toddlers when she got the call she suspected might come someday. Her nephews, Kelin, 7, and Nick, 9, needed an emergency foster placement. Without hesitation, she got in the car and drove three hours to pick them up.
Taylor understood what the boys were going through. After losing her father at 14, she spent her teenage years in foster care. She knew welcoming Kelin and Nick into her family would mean helping them heal. She started by introducing structure at home.
“My two- and three-year-olds had an 8 o’clock bedtime, so Kelin and Nick did too,” Taylor laughed. “For them, it was a time to slow down and decompress.”
Taylor also took advantage of the support system in her community, and beyond. She recalls the help she received from friends, families, and professionals in the early days of the transition.
“Whether they were going to be with me for two weeks or two months or forever, I wanted to give them something that would help them in the long run,” Taylor said.
With a strong foundation in place, the boys explored new activities and thrived—both in school and in sports. They threw themselves into basketball, baseball, and cross country while excelling academically. Today, Nick is a freshman in college, and Kelin, a high school junior, is a member of the National Honor Society.
Along the way, the boys also came to embrace their Native American heritage. They began attending powwows, dances, feasts, and church services as a family.
“With Taylor, I’ve learned pretty much everything I know about my culture,” Kelin said. “When I was younger, I didn’t really have any interactions with my culture. Now, I’ve learned not only about my tribes, but other tribes, too.”
Nick also shared the benefits of connecting with his heritage. Taylor fondly remembers hearing him describe how powerful it felt to dance on the same grounds as his ancestors.
“Hearing him say that and knowing that I was able to help him make that connection, was very special to me,” Taylor said. “I firmly believe that culture is healing—any culture—because it creates a sense of confidence and belonging.”
Learn more
Interested in taking the next step? Learn about becoming a foster parent or adopting from foster care.
Learn more about trauma-responsive parenting.
