Blog

For sisters Pam and Karen, caring for teens in foster care is more than a role – it’s a mission. After coming together under one roof to care for their mother in her later years, they found that their love for working with youth, and shared commitment to caring for others and making a difference naturally extended to fostering. Pam had years of licensed foster care experience, and inspired Karen to join her in being a source of love and guidance to teen youth, particularly young men at risk of aging out of the foster care system. In 2021,19,000 youth left foster care without reuniting with their parents or having another permanent family home. Pam and Karen wanted to be a part of the solution. 

Today, they have over 30 years of combined experience as foster parents! Their continued commitment to opening their home to youth in need is rooted in their shared belief that every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the chance to grow and succeed. 

A Family Commitment to Caring 

Pam and Karen’s foster parenting journey began with Pam’s extensive career working with youth in residential treatment at Oesterlen Services for Youth, Inc. in Springfield, Ohio, which recently integrated with The Buckeye Ranch in a strategic alignment and restructuring. Pam became a licensed foster parent in 2008, initially providing respite care before expanding to traditional foster care. Karen, who served in the military and volunteered her time working with youth in the juvenile justice system, was inspired by her sister to enter the world of foster care 13 years ago. They have been co-parenting ever since, offering their love and experience to help teens who need it most.

Pam shares, “I’ve always loved kids, I wanted to make sure that youth in care had a chance at a better life.” Meanwhile, Karen shares an early learning that fostering is more than just being there for kids, “It really is an investment to help them heal and give them your time. You have to be persistent and forgiving – that leads you as a foster parent.” 

A major source of guidance in their fostering journey has been the solid foundation of values instilled in them by their parents. Neither Pam nor Karen has biological children of their own, so they rely on lessons from their own upbringing to guide them as parents. “It comes down to treating people the way you want to be treated,” Pam shares, “That’s what we learned from our parents and instill in our kids. If you treat people well, things will work out.”

Creating Stability for Teens 

Pam and Karen are deeply committed to fostering teen youth, particularly young men at risk of aging out of foster care without support. Teens in foster care face a unique set of challenges including early pregnancy, higher risk of human trafficking, lower graduation rate, and increased risk for homelessness. To combat these challenges, Pam and Karen root their parenting in consistency, structure, and open communication. Pam shares, “We lead by example, set clear expectations and limits, and have an open-door

policy for communication and how to advocate for yourself.”

The sisters work to set clear boundaries, while emphasizing the importance of trust, respect, and accountability. A major focus of their parenting is setting the youth up for independent living. Pam and Karen take pride in teaching the young men in their care invaluable life skills like saving money, how to open bank accounts, interview for jobs, and network, how to drive, and how to be successful in school to reach graduation. “We work to build that trust, so we can help them to set and reach their goals. The youth who are placed in our home are given the tools necessary to help them navigate through life,” Karen says. With the life skills and work ethics they instill in the youth they care for; the majority have left their home into independent living situations with $10,000 or more in the bank to rely on. 

“We believe in second chances,” Karen explains. “When our kids mess up, we don’t give up on them. We try to give them the tools to make better choices.” 

Fostering Teen Youth with Support from The Buckeye Ranch

Pam and Karen acknowledge the importance of a supportive agency in any foster journey. They received their initial licensing through Oesterlen Services for Youth, before coming to The Buckeye Ranch following the strategic partnership and restructuring with Oesterlen in September of 2024. The pair have been happy with the transition and support services offered by The Buckeye Ranch’s Foster Care program, including their case manager Robin. “Our experiences at The Buckeye Ranch, while brief so far, have been positive,” Karen shares. “Our Case Manager, Robin, has been helpful finding respite when we need it and shows a lot of empathy and compassion. She has shown up to school meetings and helped us navigate difficult conversations with our youth when we needed it.”

Part of being a licensed foster parent includes participation in ongoing training. The Buckeye Ranch provides various accessible training options throughout the year, both in-person and online. This has been a major benefit according to Pam and Karen, “All the trainers come prepared, and they come with lived experiences, ready to help foster parents become more successful with the youth in their home.” They also share that they have benefitted from the online training options and are happy with the flexibility it provides. 

In addition to regular training opportunities, our Foster Care Team also provides space for connection and community building between foster families, which Pam and Karen appreciate. One such annual event is the We Raise Hope Foster Parent Training Conference, which brings foster parents from The Buckeye Ranch together for a weekend of learnings, connection, and celebration. 

Building Lasting Relationships 

Pam and Karen’s fostering philosophy goes beyond providing temporary care; they strive to build lasting relationships with the youth in their home. For them, adoption isn’t a part of the plan; rather, they are committed to being a consistent source of stability and support for as many youth as they can welcome into their home, “Our goal is to make sure these kids don’t age out of the system without anyone to lean on,” Pam says. 

Those they cared for continue to reach out and stay in touch over the years, turning to Pam and Karen for guidance and emotional support. Many have gained a new appreciation for the love and care they received from Pam and Karen as they have grown up, and it brings the sisters a lot of joy to see the lasting impact they have had in the lives of those they care for. They are proud to have helped kids graduate high school, learn to drive, secure jobs, and be financially independent. Celebrating milestones, birthdays,

and achievements brings a lot of happiness and meaning to their lives. “When our kids succeed, we feel like we’ve done our job,” Karen says. “And when they call us to check in or ask for advice, it reminds us why we do this work.” 

Opening your Heart to Fostering Teen Youth

For Pam and Karen, fostering is about making a real, lasting impact on a young person’s life. Fostering teen youth has taught them many lessons, but the most important one has been the power of resilience and patience. “It’s not easy, but it’s always worth it,” Karen says. “The kids we care for face so many challenges, but they also have so much potential. It’s our job to help them see it and help them get there.”

They encourage anyone who has the time, space, and heart to consider becoming a foster parent. “There’s a critical need for foster parents, especially for teens,” Pam says. “If you have the ability to provide a safe, loving home, you could change a child’s life. It’s the most important job you’ll ever have.” 

If you’re interested in opening your heart to foster care and want to learn more about the process, The Buckeye Ranch offers the training and support to guide you through every step of your journey. Learn more and get started today.