Meet Angie and Scott, a typical American family working hard to raise their four sons.  What is unique about Angie and Scott is that in addition to juggling their lives around work, ballgames, carpools, and family activities, they have opened up their hearts and home to foster children.

Angie and Scott have always had a desire to help at-risk children.  "I see kids in the community that are neglected and I have always wanted to help them," Angie says.  But that first step to becoming a foster parent was a difficult one.  It wasn't until Angie met and visited with another foster parent that she and Scott made the final decision to be foster parents.  "Having another person walk me through the process made it so much easier," she explains.

In order to become foster parents, a couple needs to fill out an application and then go through standard fingerprint and background checks.  After the initial application process, both parents need to complete a 27-hour course provided by the Department of Health and Welfare.  This class occurs once a week, and because of their varying work schedules, it took Scott and Angie about a year to complete the course and all the requirements necessary to becoming foster parents.

Now that Scott and Angie are licensed foster parents, they regularly receive calls from Health and Human Services with requests to take in children.  Foster families have the ability to pick and choose which children come stay with them.  Angie explains, "I listen to the age of the children, their gender, how many there are, and I always ask what their background is."  Depending on that information, Angie says they decide whether or not the child or children would be a good match for their family, and whether or not they will accept them.

One might worry about how their own children would respond to foster children being brought into the home, but for Angie and Scott foster siblings have been great for their own children.  It was most difficult for their young toddler because he had to learn to share his mom with children his own age, but he has adjusted and now he has a built-in-buddy, someone his own age always there to play with him.  The older boys have loved having younger foster siblings.  They have taught their younger foster siblings how to throw and catch a ball, and how to ride a bike.  These experiences have given their older children a sense of pride and accomplishment. Just as importantly, it has helped her children recognize the blessings in their own lives.  Angie says, "My own children have seen the situations and circumstances these foster children come from.  Particularly with my older teenage son, having foster children has taught him the importance of making good choices in life."

The hardest part of being a foster parent is the routine.  Incorporating one, two, or even three new people into the family's daily schedule can take a few weeks.  There is definitely more work to do when you have foster children. "I don't feel like I will ever get the laundry done.  I buy twelve gallons of milk a week," and she continues with a laugh, "I am always feeding."

However, the daily sacrifices have brought immeasurable rewards.  Angie concludes, "The most rewarding thing is to have them be a part of our lives, to have them with us.  It is rewarding for them because they are introduced to stability, how family works, how to be a law abiding citizen, the importance of education, [proper] behavior, and how to socialize. It is rewarding because you are fulfilling their needs.  Everyone needs to be needed."

Scott and Angie received two foster children in December 2011.  They were brothers ages 18 months and 5 years old.  The boys spent most of last year with Scott and Angie's family.  They are now in the process of adopting these two little brothers.

Scott and Angie are a great example of seeing the value in each individual.  They know it is impossible to change the world for everyone, but they are willing to work hard and sacrifice so they can change the world for just a few.  The opportunities Scott and Angie are giving these foster children will help these children be better, stronger individuals which in turn makes a better, stronger community and society for us all.