Ring Family

I met 7-year-old Brooklynn in 2015 when I was a family services specialist working on her case. At the time, I did not know that Brooklynn would play a significant role in my life.

Years later, my wife and I became licensed resource parents. On a Friday afternoon in January of 2022, we received a call about a teenage girl in need of a foster home and initially declined. However, we continued to have a nagging feeling about the child and the following week, called to see if she was still in need of a foster home. It turned out to be Brooklynn, the same child I had encountered years before. She was now 14 years old.

At the time, Brooklynn was struggling with substance use disorder and needed to complete drug court and all services that accompany the program. After nine months, Brooklynn graduated drug court and has been sober since.

In June of 2022, we accepted the placement of a newborn named Kourtland. Kourtland came and went from our home after just one night but returned three months later.

Both girls remained in foster care with us. In the fall of 2023, the court changed their goals to adoption.

Around this time, another teen, Emma, was placed with us. Emma was almost 18 and struggled with sobriety. She began therapy and through a lot of hard work, overcame this challenge.

Despite not being free for adoption, Emma saw us as her forever family. Two weeks after turning 18, she requested with the court to have her last name changed to ours.

In March of 2024, the adoptions for Brooklynn and Kourtland were finalized and one week later, Emma's name change was granted.

We're now a family of five, and our children have hit some big milestones. Emma graduated from high school, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society. She plans to become a registered nurse. Brooklynn, who was also inducted into the National Honor Society, works part-time and is completing college courses. Kourtland is a healthy 2-year-old and enjoys spending time with her big sisters.

- Sara Ring

Learn about becoming a foster parent

Speak to a foster care specialist at 1-888-2Foster