In May, we honor National Foster Care Month and the importance of fostering in communities. Kara and Shawn Knight have been fostering for more than 15 years, with each year bringing its own unique set of experiences and challenges. They began their journey as traditional foster parents and later transitioned into therapeutic foster care providers.
Starting Out & Gaining Experience: The Knight’s adventure into foster care began when they opened their home for three children over the years, which eventually led to the adoption of their daughter through TFI. About 15 years ago, they started fostering non-kinship children, initially focusing on helping specific kids they knew and gradually expanding their involvement. A few years ago, Kara took on a new role as an occupational therapist, working with children in foster care, including those with developmental delays and teenagers facing crises. This new experience further deepened both her and Shawn’s understanding and passion for supporting youth in foster care.
“My husband and I found that we genuinely enjoyed working with teenagers and felt called to do more. When TFI introduced a new therapeutic foster program, we realized it was the right time for us—our children are older, and we’re able to fully commit, even considering selling our home to support this work,” shares Kara Knight.
Since August, the Knights have been caring for youth in this new therapeutic foster home, motivated by a desire to make a meaningful difference.
Their Fostering Approach: The Knights describe their household as laid-back and flexible, with a focus on building trust and providing life skills rather than strict authority. They aim to offer children a sense of normalcy, stability and the opportunity to simply be teenagers. For instance, Kara and Shawn frequently take the kids to the movies, the YMCA, concerts and other activities. They always encourage the children to make positive choices and strive to make them feel valued. They see themselves as mentors rather than authority figures, focusing on communication, respect and understanding.
Therapeutic Foster Homes Explained: Within the foster care system, therapeutic foster homes like the Knights’ are specifically designed for children who do not have a current placement. Typically, children stay with the Knights for up to 21 days while TFI and DCF work together to find the most suitable long-term placement. At present, the Knights are caring for three children, most of whom stay for the full 21 days. The Knights’ home provides a crucial source of stability in the continuum of care. When necessary, some children can stay longer than 21 days through approved extensions, ensuring they have a safe and supportive environment during transitional periods.
Supporting Children and Overcoming Challenges: Being a therapeutic foster home can be challenging given the limited 21-day timeframe with each child. Challenges include coordinating medical care, dentist appointments, therapy sessions and keeping up with school requirements. To help navigate these challenges, Kara and Shawn collaborated with the principal of an online school program. The online principal has been very supportive, encouraging students to work diligently and providing pathways to earn credits and progress towards their high school diploma.
The Knights believe that maintaining ongoing relationships with former foster children through visits and support can aid with their transition. They regularly visit one of their previous placements who is now in a residential treatment facility.
“There’s always something you can do for a kid. Whether it’s getting them into their medical appointments, therapy sessions or updating their IEPs [Individual Education Plan],” says Kara. “If you’re truly in it, there’s always ways to help as they move on to their next placement.”
Advice for Prospective Foster Parents: The Knights emphasize that patience, humor and strong support networks are essential when fostering. They stress that even small acts of kindness and consistency can have a profound impact on a child’s life. Additionally, they encourage prospective foster parents to focus on creating a positive, nurturing environment and to educate themselves about the system’s limitations. They acknowledge that there are challenges but believe that dedication can truly make a difference.
“We hope our story encourages others to consider fostering, providing respite care, volunteering, or donating—any way to support children in need,” say the Knights.
The Knights’ story showcases the lasting impact of patience, kindness and commitment. Their dedication to providing stability and support highlights the vital role foster families play in shaping a child’s future. We thank them for their inspiring example and encourage others to get involved.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent or learning more about it, we encourage you to visit: How To Become A Foster Parent – TFI.