Foster Parent Spotlight:
Tim and Josette McCoy

An Abingdon family opened up their home to five siblings in need of foster parents. They have learned that being foster parents can be challenging, but the rewards are so much greater.

Tim and Josette McCoy became foster parents in 2006 for the Abingdon office of DePaul Family Services. They have a son that they love very much, but always wanted more children. Tim lost his parents at a young age and helped raise his siblings. He knew how it felt to be without his parents and knew the fear of being separated from his siblings. He did not want any child to feel that pain. He and Josette decided they had more than enough love to share and wanted to open their home to children in need of a permanent home.

Their home study was approved in November. Thirteen days later they were asked if they were interested in having a sibling group of five placed with them. Tim and Josette felt a little overwhelmed and very nervous, but they excitedly agreed. In a matter of 13 days, they went from a one child home to having six children under the age of 12. Now they are headed for adoption!

They have had struggles and sleepless nights, but both Tim and Josette report they would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Tim has said many times that as they were going through their foster parent training he thought the DePaul workers were crazy! He also believed that all children would be fine if you just loved them. Since their initial foster parent training, he has many times told the workers that they knew what they were talking about after all! The McCoys have learned that being foster parents is a lot harder, but more rewarding, than they could ever have imagined.

Josette has learned to master the skill of juggling appointments, homework, and home life like a pro. The family has adjusted well and is counting down the days until their adoption is final. At each home visit, the children remind the DePaul worker that they are happy and want to be McCoys forever. Tim, Josette, and the children look forward to sharing their home with as many children as God blesses them. And we in the Abingdon office know that Tim and Josette have more than enough love to go around.

By: Krae Stanley, TFC Social Worker, Abingdon