KC area couple encouraging others to get involved for National Foster Care Month
SHAWNEE, Kan. — A local longtime foster family is encouraging others to get involved. May is National Foster Care Month as thousands of kids across Kansas and Missouri are in need of homes.
'They get adopted or get a good foster home,' Foster Parent Sheri Rice said.
'And it can change a kid's life.'
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She knows firsthand how a supportive foster home can change the trajectory of a child's life.
She and her husband, Ron Rice, fostered and adopted their son. They went on to become foster parents to more than 50 kids over the next ten years.
Now, this couple has once again opened their home to a 15-year-old who was in a group home.
'People can think they're too old, like us, can do it. It isn't as hard as you might think,' Sheri Rice said. 'We don't always agree because I'm 75 and she's 15, but at the end of the day, she comes and wants her hug.'
If the couple hadn't stepped in to foster, Ron Rice said the 15-year-old was at risk of being sent to live in another community.
'If they would've moved her, that would have pretty much been at least not the end, but stopped any frequent visits with her siblings,' he said.
There are nearly 700 youth in foster care in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties as of April, according to KVC Kansas.
KVC is a family of non-profits designed to strengthen families, prevent child abuse and improve mental wellness. They currently support more than 450 Kansas foster parents.
In Missouri, the Dept. of Social Services says more than 11,000 youth are in foster care, hoping for a caring place to temporarily call home.
'It is alarming,' Valencia Eason, supervisor with Foster Case Management at KVC Valencia, said.
Eason said the goal of foster care is reunification.
'Support and community is the biggest thing that helps grow and move these families toward reunifying,' Eason said.
She said right now, there's a great need for foster parents, like Sheri Rice. She's also on the Board of Foster Care Ministry at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee. She said through donations, they provide support to foster families like food, clothing, furniture, even babysitting.
Ron Rice said in the last three years, they've answered more than 300 requests for assistance.
'That does help to make a difference in a child's life,' he said.
Sheri Rice said last year, they placed 60 beds in homes.
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'Forty-nine of those beds went to families, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and that meant 49 kids got out of foster care because of St. Joseph Church because they were able to provide a bed for them,' Sheri Rice said. 'So that makes my heart happy.'
Last year, Foster Care Ministries were in seven parishes in the archdiocese. Now, 12 parishes provide support to foster families.
'Sometimes just having that support will keep a family from stopping foster care or keeps them from taking kids in because they won't have support,' Sheri Rice said. 'And we provide that, we try to help them.'
If you're interested in fostering or adopting or want to find a way to use your gifts to give back, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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KC area couple encouraging others to get involved for National Foster Care Month
SHAWNEE, Kan. — A local longtime foster family is encouraging others to get involved. May is National Foster Care Month as thousands of kids across Kansas and Missouri are in need of homes. 'They get adopted or get a good foster home,' Foster Parent Sheri Rice said. 'And it can change a kid's life.' Missouri counties denied state aid for tornado damage She knows firsthand how a supportive foster home can change the trajectory of a child's life. She and her husband, Ron Rice, fostered and adopted their son. They went on to become foster parents to more than 50 kids over the next ten years. Now, this couple has once again opened their home to a 15-year-old who was in a group home. 'People can think they're too old, like us, can do it. It isn't as hard as you might think,' Sheri Rice said. 'We don't always agree because I'm 75 and she's 15, but at the end of the day, she comes and wants her hug.' If the couple hadn't stepped in to foster, Ron Rice said the 15-year-old was at risk of being sent to live in another community. 'If they would've moved her, that would have pretty much been at least not the end, but stopped any frequent visits with her siblings,' he said. There are nearly 700 youth in foster care in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties as of April, according to KVC Kansas. KVC is a family of non-profits designed to strengthen families, prevent child abuse and improve mental wellness. They currently support more than 450 Kansas foster parents. In Missouri, the Dept. of Social Services says more than 11,000 youth are in foster care, hoping for a caring place to temporarily call home. 'It is alarming,' Valencia Eason, supervisor with Foster Case Management at KVC Valencia, said. Eason said the goal of foster care is reunification. 'Support and community is the biggest thing that helps grow and move these families toward reunifying,' Eason said. She said right now, there's a great need for foster parents, like Sheri Rice. She's also on the Board of Foster Care Ministry at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee. She said through donations, they provide support to foster families like food, clothing, furniture, even babysitting. Ron Rice said in the last three years, they've answered more than 300 requests for assistance. 'That does help to make a difference in a child's life,' he said. Sheri Rice said last year, they placed 60 beds in homes. Iconic KCK burger drive-in reopens under new ownership 'Forty-nine of those beds went to families, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and that meant 49 kids got out of foster care because of St. Joseph Church because they were able to provide a bed for them,' Sheri Rice said. 'So that makes my heart happy.' Last year, Foster Care Ministries were in seven parishes in the archdiocese. Now, 12 parishes provide support to foster families. 'Sometimes just having that support will keep a family from stopping foster care or keeps them from taking kids in because they won't have support,' Sheri Rice said. 'And we provide that, we try to help them.' If you're interested in fostering or adopting or want to find a way to use your gifts to give back, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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