More foster and adoptive families needed

Annette Cowley adopted 17 year-old Jordan in May. Jordan cam to live with Cowley last year as a foster child.

“It was just a perfect fit,” Cowley said. “She’s very responsible and she’s fun to be around, so she just fit in really well”

Jordan had been in foster care since she was 12. She moved around to nine different foster placements during that time, so she appreciates having a real home and a mom.

“I’m very grateful for her,” Jordan said. “She’s very loving. She can be a stickler at times, but that’s one of the things a parent needs to do — keep your grades up.”

As for Cowley, the fact that she’s an adoptive mom, rather than a birth mom makes no difference when it comes to love.

“She’s my daughter, and she was the minute she came in,” Cowley said. “Jordan was a great fit and I don’t think that I could have loved my own child more than I love Jordan. She’s my kid.”

Having experienced both foster families and an adoptive family, Jordan sees great value being part of a loving family she can call her own.

“It’s very nice knowing you have a family — a family you can go to after college for Christmas, Thanksgiving, even Valentine’s Day — a family that you can go to and have dinner when you need it, and having a support system for you to go to. It’s very important for a child to have,” Jordan said.

Cowley says being a foster or adoptive parent is rewarding, She hopes more people consider it, because there’s a need.

“You don’t have to be rich and you don’t have to have a big fancy home,” Cowley said. “You just have to have a heart and a spare bedroom, and that’s really where it starts.”

For information on foster care and adoption you can call the Idaho Careline at 2-1-1 or go to fosteringidaho.org.