Candace King’s foster care journey began in 2011. Though many foster parents are hesitant to take in older girls, Candace has a natural ability to connect with girls over the age of 7 and into their teens. She offers a stable home life, as well as the patience, warmth and love these girls need.

When she first started fostering, adoption was not part of the plan. That changed in May 2017 when Faith and Jurnee were placed in her care. Their mother was tragically killed in a car accident witnessed by the sisters and their siblings. The children’s father was unable to care for them. So, in addition to the trauma of losing their mother, the children were uprooted from their home, and the girls were separated from their three siblings. Jurnee, who is intellectually disabled, and Faith both needed a great deal of support, as well as extensive grief counseling.

In Pressley Ridge’s Treatment Foster Care model, foster parents are a key member of the team and work directly alongside the staff to treat children for trauma-related issues. Along with consistent behavioral and trauma-based interventions and clinical consults, Candace provided support and encouragement, and most importantly, she was there to help them feel safe.

Thanks to the support of Pressley Ridge and love and guidance from Candace, Jurnee is receiving the help she needs, and Faith is gaining ground in school. Their lives are full and busy as both girls sing with the church choir, Jurnee loves photography, and Faith enjoys dance and cheerleading.

Candace is grateful every day for her family, which includes five daughters. Being a single parent has its challenges, but they work through everything together. Throughout the past decade, Candace has opened her heart and her home to 25 youth, and she continues to foster young girls to this day.

Join us in celebrating National Foster Care Month by learning more about the important role foster parents play in the life of a child in need and find out if you have what it takes to become a foster parent at pressleyridge.org/fostercare.

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