About Us

Mission

We are building a sense of home within the community, and reaching outward to ensure families and children get the support they need.

Michael Sheaffer-Founder

I was born into a rough home with addict and alcoholic parents. I am a child of addiction, abuse, foster care, adoption, and divorce. Moving through 8 foster homes in 3 years, I felt extreme rejection and had no sense of stability or love. I never had good examples of what positive relationships look like, and became involved in numerous toxic relationships. I am now married to a loving wife, have a wonderful family, and a stable home. My passion for supporting kids in foster and adoption situations is in part because of my own experiences, but also because of my older sibling who remained in foster care and aged out of the system. Unfortunately, he did not have the positive support he needed to succeed in life. I didn't have the ability to help him. But I can help the next child.

What We Offer

A foster closet to help serve foster and adoptive families in our community. The closet has clothes and everyday household items to help families that need them.
We have a podcast to share stories and experiences from people that have fostered and adopted and know the needs of the community. Also stories from people that have lived through foster and adoptive care. Sharing these stories and experiences is a great way for kids to learn they are not alone in their experiences.
We have support groups for parents and families in the community. Also peer support groups specifically for kids going through foster and adopted life.
A central place to find resources and information on the foster and adoptive community.

Why We Do It

National Statistics

There are currently over 400,000 kids in the foster care system in the United States.
Foster youth are 7 times more likely to suffer from depression.
Foster youth are 4 times more likely to consider or attempt suicide.
50 percent of new foster parents quit within the first year due to lack of support.
Only 50 percent of foster kids graduate high school, Only three percent graduate college.
80 percent of the U.S. prison population was in the foster care system.
60 percent of sex traffic victims come from the foster care system.

Closer To Home

There are 31,000 kids in the foster system in Indiana.
Indiana has the fourth highest rate of kids in the foster care system in the U.S.
Out of 92 counties in Indiana, Elkhart County has the 9th highest rate of kids in the foster care system. St, Joseph County has the 5th highest rate.

Educational Disparity

Foster kids are 2.5 times more likely to be suspended
They are 3 times more likely to be held back
They are 4 times more likely to be expelled
It is estimated that every time a child switches homes they lose 6 months of their education. Many kids in foster care have multiple placements a year.

Ageing out

25,000 kids age out of the foster care system each year. Many with no where to turn and nothing and no one to fall back on.

Within 2-4 years of ageing out

40 percent are homeless
50 percent experience drug or alcohol addiction
55 percent are unemployed
84 percent have kids of their own

This ultimately leads to generational struggles.