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Foster care reunification is the main goal for any family navigating the child welfare system, which comes with challenges for biological families and foster families alike. At The Buckeye Ranch, we know that when both families work together to make the child’s long-term success the focal point of the foster care journey, magic can happen. 

Children do best with family and people close to them. That’s why reunification is always the goal, whenever safe and possible, at The Buckeye Ranch. Kaitee and Sloan’s journey is a beautiful testament to foster care reunification and how it can create an even bigger village to support youth’s futures. Take a look: 

Finding Hope for Foster Care Reunification on the Hardest Days 

In 2024, Sloan and Kaitee were placed in foster care after their family was experiencing instability. 

“During this time, our family was struggling with job and food insecurity, mental health, substance use disorder, and homelessness,” reflects Amy, Kaitee and Megan’s mom and Sloan’s grandmother. “We were living out of our car. Megan was struggling to finish school. We were feeling hopeless, but we were doing our best and loving our kids every day.” 

When a family is in crisis, they cannot always see that their children are experiencing a harmful environment. “You’re still loving your kids unconditionally,” shares Megan. “At the time, we couldn’t give the kids everything they needed. When they were placed in foster care, even though it was excruciating, it was ultimately necessary so we could get back on our feet.” 

Amy and Megan knew that they needed time to heal and get to a place where they could reunify with the kids. Thanks to understanding and support from their community, The Buckeye Ranch, and the foster family caring for their kids, they had hope they could get there.

It Takes a Village: Finding Support from The Buckeye Ranch

When the siblings were placed in care, they experienced one short-term foster placement together, before being placed with Buckeye Ranch foster parents Scott and Ashley in February of 2024.  

Ashley and Scott decided to become foster parents in 2023 after experiencing fertility challenges. They both loved children, and knew that many kids needed safe, loving homes. 

“We researched some foster agencies in the Central Ohio area, and we looked and saw what The Buckeye Ranch’s Foster Care program provided as far as other supports, and we just felt like they were the best fit for us in our foster care journey,” shares Ashley. “We are big advocates for mental health, so the fact that they could do everything in-house was great for us.” 

The right support is crucial for families caring for siblings in foster care. Many children in foster care have experienced complex traumas that can be overwhelming physically and emotionally, and The Buckeye Ranch provides foster parents with robust support services, including 24/7 on-call support, personalized case management and advocacy, ongoing training, foster-related financial reimbursement, connection to community resources, and educational resources to set all of our foster families up for success.

The Right Solutions Make Healing Possible 

“Your world, and the world of the kids in your care, gets turned upside down during a new placement,” shares Ashley. “We didn’t think opening our home to Kaitee and Sloan would be possible at first because of logistical barriers with work and visitation. The Buckeye Ranch made it possible. Our case manager, Lauren, worked tirelessly to help us coordinate transportation for visits with our work schedules. Our family is a reality because of The Buckeye Ranch.” 

In addition to supporting Scott and Ashley through their foster care journey, The Buckeye Ranch also linked them to other programs within the organization’s continuum of care when Kaitee needed mental health support.  

“The team continued to support us throughout the placement, connecting us to respite care, The Buckeye Ranch’s Community Medication Management program to help manage Kaitee’s ADHD, and Outpatient therapy programs to support the kids with their mental health,” explains Ashley. 

The Buckeye Ranch’s Outpatient program is for youth ages 5 through 18 who need support effectively managing a wide variety of mental health diagnoses. The goal of the program is to support youth by developing tools and coping mechanisms to manage their mental health so they can find stability in their day-to-day lives, allowing them to blossom into who they are meant to be in our community. 

With The Buckeye Ranch in their corner, Scott and Ashley cared for Kaitee and Sloan for ten months, supporting them through the challenging transitions that come with foster care and keeping them connected to their biological family. 

Making Foster Care Reunification Possible 

“We emphasized to Kaitee and Sloan that no matter what, we were always going to love them – never as a replacement, but in addition to their parents,” reflects Scott, foster parent to Kaitee and Sloan. “Throughout placement, we maintained open communication with Amy, Kaitee’s mom and Sloan’s grandmother, and Megan, Sloan’s mom and Kaitee’s sister. Sharing the small things and special moments with Amy and Megan would help them heal.” 

Scott, Ashley, Amy, Megan, and The Buckeye Ranch all worked together to make sure the kids had access to their moms beyond just the court mandated visits. Regular video calls together and sharing photos of the kids’ day-to-day was instrumental in keeping Amy and Megan hopeful and making foster care reunification possible. 

“People can be judgmental, but Ashley and Scott were only respectful and open,” shares Megan. “Because of their support, we’re in a much better place. We’ve become better people. Their acceptance changed our lives, motivating me to finish school, supporting our family as we secured employment and housing, and lifting us to a place where we can give the kids everything they need.” 

You don’t just foster kids, you foster a family,” shares Scott. “It’s not always easy but getting the chance to love kids like Kaitee and Sloan and gain family members like Megan and Amy, it’s absolutely worth it.”

Chosen Family … Forever 

In December 2024, the kids were able to reunify with Amy and Megan. They still spend time with Scott and Ashley, and the six have become a chosen family, spending holidays together, creating special memories, and continuing to support Kaitee and Sloan so they can blossom. 

“When Megan and Amy were ready to reunify with the kids, the four of us had a conversation on how we could remain in their lives. When reunification day came it was never ‘goodbye’, it was ‘see you soon’ which made it so much easier on all of us,” explains Scott. “Now, Ashely and I are the ones looking forward to video calls, random cute pictures, and our weekend visits. We are so happy that the kids are now home with their family, and we will continue to be a support system for all of them for the rest of our lives.” 

Building a Bigger Village 

Parenting takes a village. Amy and Megan did not have many extended family members to support them throughout their parenting journey. Scott and Ashley’s family has become that support for them. 

“They have wholly embraced us – inviting us for holidays, constantly checking in, pushing me to pursue my dental hygienist certification, providing respite for us, and just being the support system we’ve never had,” shares Megan. “We will always want them in our kids’ lives, and we are forever grateful to call them family.” 

Before this journey, Kaitee and Sloan were emotionally unavailable and struggling developmentally. Today, they’re thriving. Kaitee is doing well in school, and Sloan is very advanced for his age.  

“Because of this experience and support, Megan and I are confident we can provide the stability the kids need to grow up,” explains Amy. “Sometimes foster care is what’s needed. Because of it, our kids and us now have an even bigger village. Family is not just blood relatives … it’s the people that love you for who you are.”

You can never have too many people that love you. Magic happens when foster parents and biological parents all work together to achieve foster care reunification, whenever safe and possible. 

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. Get started on your foster care journey today!