For Anne, fostering isn’t about numbers—it’s about growth. Still, the numbers tell part of the story: 18 years, 29 youth, four adoptions, and a home that rarely stands still. 

From infants straight out of the hospital to teens leaving juvenile detention, Anne has welcomed them all. Most stayed a year or more. Some still return to visit. But what matters most to her is not how long they stayed, but whether they found hope, calm, and the possibility of something better.

(Watch a video about Anne’s journey as a foster parent here.)

Anne didn’t grow up in Idaho. As a transplant, she wanted to connect with her new community. That’s when she saw a 211 CareLine ad that read, “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.” The message struck a chord. She talked it over with her husband—they had two young kids at the time—and soon, they were welcoming new guests into their home.

‘Progress isn’t always perfection’

Anne admits now that she started with the wrong idea. She thought she could love the kids enough to take away their pain. But she learned quickly that love doesn’t cure trauma, and “progress isn’t always perfection.”

Over time, her understanding of her role shifted. She said her job wasn’t to make sure the child was perfectly healed, but to open new neural pathways, to help them feel calm, to help them feel peace.

That kind of healing starts with consistency—and sometimes, with an apology. Many of the youth in her care had never had an adult say sorry. Anne made that part of her example, showing them what stability, responsibility, and grace look like.

With every placement, she asks herself: “Did I give this child everything I could to help them look for something better, to help them aspire for something higher, to help them know that this is what consistency looks like, this is what stability looks like?”

Perfection, she now believes, is simpler than she once thought: it’s being present. Not fixing, but building. Building routines. Building trust. Building love.

Building something that lasts

Anne and her husband have adopted four Idaho youths and currently have two in their care. Some former foster children still drop by—one visits several times a week.

She also supports other families. Earlier this year, when a large sibling group had to be split, Anne worked with fellow foster parents Gene and Sandy Kissinger to keep the siblings connected. They coordinated visits, shared updates, and prioritized the children’s relationships with each other. That kind of teamwork, Anne said, is how healing begins.

“These kids just need someone who is engaged and cares about them and their whole family,” she said. “If I can’t love their parents, how can I love them?”

Anne knows she won’t see every child grow up—but she’s confident the time they spend with her sets the stage for growth down the road. With every moment of stability, every apology, every second of calm, she is building something that lasts.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.