Local Foundation Providing Community Support To Keep Foster Children Together

Family is something many of us take for granted. For children in foster care, it can be tough to understand family, if you don’t know your family.

“Children in a moment’s notice have to leave their home, have to leave their parents, they have to leave everything that is familiar to them,” said Katherine Craig, executive director of The Anna’s House Foundation.

It is the sad reality of the foster care system, but that’s where the foundation steps in. “We provide all of the school supplies for the children that are in our care, all of the Christmas presents that are for the children, we provide Thanksgiving baskets,” said Craig.

However, with everything the faith-based organization was providing, there was a crucial element missing. “At a minimum, they should be able to stay together with their siblings,” said Craig.

In 2012 the idea of building a community of homes for foster families was established. “With that heart and mission in mind, we built eight homes in our foster care community here in Luther,” said Craig.

Residents live in the community rent-free, they must be at least twenty-one years old, pass a background test, and have at least four foster children. Something DJ Eastep and his family definitely qualify for. “Right now we have nine,” said Foster parent DJ Eastep.

He and his wife have always had a passion for children and this community not only helps the kids, it also helps them accomplish what they feel they are called to do. “It’s a good place to be. We really do take the approach that it takes a village to raise a child, and everybody in this community works together,” said Eastep.

Part of that support is frequent parents’ night out support as well as on-site pediatrician appointments, and psychiatric counseling for the kids as well as the parents, making the load just a little lighter for the foster parents. “That’s what we do. Kids are our life, and we enjoy doing it,” said Eastep.

For those interested in foster care or want to know more about Anna’s House, visit their website www.annashousefoundation.org