Christina and Jon help Casey reunite her family

Casey loves her three children. Her commitment to them has been her North Star. But she says she would never have met her goals, gone through the grueling rehab, or worked so hard to turn her life around if it had not been for the love and support of her dad, friends, and her children's foster parents, Christina and Jon Davidson.

"Christina has walked with me," Casey asserts. "She and Jon prayed for me and my children and they took care of my children when I couldn't. There is no way I could have been able to get back on my feet and be where I am now without the help they have given me. They wanted me to be with my children again."

Christina and Jon have been married 16 years. Despite Christina learning at age 15 she may not be able to have children, the couple dreamed of a family. After trying to become pregnant and attempting IVF, they turned their focus to fostering. They set their course to foster through Baptist Children's Homes and were licensed March 22, 2022. Less than 24 hours later they had their first placement—Casey's three children, two girls ages 10 and 7 and their five-year-old brother.

"Not having children of my own," Christina recalls, "it was hard at first. We went from zero to a hundred in just hours. Three children at once was a big change."

Christina embraced her new role, stepping back from her outside job. She went about wrangling a new household, setting boundaries for the children and scheduling their many appointments. The children started school in the fall and the Davidson home, to Christina's answered prayer, was running smoothly.

Christina was not only determined to meet the children's needs, she set her heart on loving Casey. "To me fostering is not just about the child. It is about the child's parents, too. It became my desire to see Casey succeed and live a better, healthier life. Jon and I were committed to do everything we could for Casey to be reunited with her children."

Almost immediately after the children arrived in the Davidson home, Christina reached out to Casey. She wanted them to work together to help the children during this difficult time, asking questions: What are favorite foods? Are there things the children enjoy? What games do they play? What are their favorite movies?

Casey was encouraged. Feelings of failure and fears of being sidelined in her children's lives subsided. She answered Christina's questions and even sent her beloved stuffed Eeyore for the children to have near them. She and Christina were becoming friends.

"I never dreamed foster parents would partner with me," Casey admits. "Christina has never been judgmental, keeping the lines of communication always open. I believe God not only sent her for my children but He sent her for me."

Shared parenting in foster care is a collaborative approach where birth parents and foster families work together. The partnership maintains a child's connection to their family, culture, and traditions, while ensuring their safety and well-being as the parent works toward reunification.

The Davidsons learned good relationships with parents makes things better, reducing the stress for the parent and allowing them to effectively work on their goals. The focus is partnering towards reunification.

Casey is a hairstylist and has earned a management role in the shop where she works. Two of her three children have returned to her home. Her oldest daughter lives with Casey's dad. Casey has learned it takes little steps, never stopping, keeping one foot in front of the other. She considers herself blessed but asserts her greatest change has been a change of the heart: "I have given my life to the Lord."

Christina and Jon have set their sights on fostering more children. The collaborative experience has been transformative. A tattoo Christina has represents their journey. The shepherd hooks symbolize the couple's faith and the love they are committed to give the children who come into their care. The lambs represent the foster children—past, present, and future. The three hearts commemorate the first three children who came into their home and their successful reunification with their mom.

By Jim Edminson, Editor of Charity & Children