Life as Foster Parents: The Jackson's Story
Until he entered the foster care system as a teenager, Adam* had never lived in a caring family environment.
“I was always in the streets, running around and doing what I wanted to do. I didn’t have any structure, but here I have that,” he says.
By “here,” Adam is referring to the home of Sabra and Willie Jackson, foster parents with the Board of Child Care’s Treatment Foster Care Program. Adam has lived with the Jackson’s since October 2009. Even though he is 19-years-old and legally an adult, Adam chose to stay in the child welfare system and live with the Jacksons – his first foster home – so that he can steer his life in the right direction. He had grown weary of the streets and life in and out of residential care facilities and juvenile detention centers. “I decided to let other people help me,” he admits.
Adam now wants the chance to make something of himself, a chance that too many young people in his situation never get.
“My goals are setting up a foundation for my future, saving money, and just growing up,” Adam says while sitting next to the Jacksons in the comfortable living room of their Randallstown home.
The Jacksons have helped him get a jump start on these goals, including finding a part-time job at America’s Best Wings and opening a savings and checking account, in addition to simply giving him love and support.
“If there is a problem, they will help me find a solution,” Adam says of the Jacksons.
“These kids need to know that someone loves them,” says Willie Jackson. “They need to be given their space and treated with respect.”
When the Jackson’s first joined BCC’s treatment foster care family and received training, they wanted to open their home to younger children. Their first foster child was a 4-year-old boy, whom they grew to love deeply. They helped reunite the child with his birth mother and they continue to host him in their home for occasional visits and to give his mother parenting advice.
BCC’s Treatment Foster Care Program has the greatest need, however, for homes for older children in foster care. Children and youth in the Treatment Foster Care Program, compared to regular foster care, have additional challenges, including greater mental and physical needs due to abuse and neglect, and require higher levels of care.
Stepping up to meet the need, the Jackson’s agreed to open their home to Adam, as well as Thomas*, who is 17.
Sabra admits that she was initially nervous caring for the older boys, since most of her experience was with younger children, but she says, “It’s been beautiful. It’s one big happy family, and I love it. Every day is not sunny and bright – there are trials and tribulations growing up – but you have to keep the faith.”
Willie and Sabra Jackson enjoy the boys’ companionship and Adam and Thomas have grown close with the Jackson’s older nieces and nephews. Ms. Jackson says she has also enjoyed teaching them to be gentlemen – opening doors for her and helping around the house – and simply watching them mature.
The Jacksons, neither of whom have biological children of their own, said their activities with young people in the community, as well as their strong spiritual faith, naturally led them to become foster parents. Mr. Jackson has run prison fellowship and mentor programs for inner city youth, and Ms. Jackson has organized etiquette classes for young woman at city recreation centers.
On a more personal level, Mr. Jackson says he was abandoned as a child. If it weren’t for an uncle who agreed to raise him, he would have wound up in foster care. It took him many years to accept his abandonment and for a time he ran with gangs before changing his life around and reuniting with his birth parents.
“I said, ‘You know, I’m tired of this and I want to give something back,’” Mr. Jackson reflects. “I believe we need to step up and take care of our neighborhoods.”
* Name changed to protect identity.
Learn more about our Treatment Foster Care Program.
