Foster Care, Adoption, & FASD Hope for the Journey
This Is More Than a Mission. This Is Our Family.
For more than 30 years, our lives have been deeply shaped by the foster care and adoption journey. We’ve welcomed six children into our home, five of them through foster care and every single one has taught us something about grace, resilience, and the power of hope.
But it’s also been hard.
Each of our five adopted children has been impacted in some way by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)—a lifelong condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD affects everything from emotional regulation and impulse control to learning, social skills, and daily routines. And yet, it’s one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed conditions in the foster care system today.
That’s why we’re telling this story. That’s why this work matters. And that’s why you—yes, you can make a difference.
What Is FASD?
FASD is not a label. It’s a reality for thousands of children in care.
Research shows that as many as 70% of children in foster care have been exposed to alcohol in utero—ten to fifteen times higher than the general population. Many of them won’t ever receive an accurate diagnosis. Instead, they’re misunderstood. Mislabeled. Punished for symptoms they can’t control.
What these children need is not just more support—but the right kind of support.
That’s where you come in.
A Glimpse Into Our Story
One of our children, diagnosed with multiple overlapping conditions, amplified by an inability to regulate emotions. We were told he needed “more discipline.” What he really needed was understanding. FASD was affecting how his brain processed sensory input, stress, and even basic transitions. It was a long difficult journey of seeking help, moving forward, falling down, finding support, and lots of prayer.
We learned that you don’t erase FASD, but you can build a new story around it—a story of hope.
What We're Doing Through Labor of Love
We’re now using our experience to serve other families, caregivers, and churches. Through training, resources, and outreach, we’re working to:
Equip foster and adoptive parents with FASD-informed strategies
Advocate for integrative care—including trauma-sensitive therapies and complementary support
Create a support network that understands the unique journey of families affected by FASD
Empower educators and churches to see the child behind the behavior
We also speak and train both in the U.S. and abroad, bringing the message of healing and practical help to communities who often don’t even have the language for FASD.
“When people know better, they do better. We believe churches, families, and communities can be equipped to walk with these children in hope—not fear.”
This Is About More Than Awareness. It's About Action.
Children with FASD are more likely to experience:
Placement disruptions
School failure
Misdiagnosis and mistreatment
Incarceration, homelessness, or addiction in adulthood
But with early intervention, structure, and the right tools, they can thrive.
We’ve seen it.
We've watched our children become gentle leaders, gifted artists, protectors of the vulnerable, and joyful worshippers—not in spite of their challenges, but through them.
How You Can Help
When you support Labor of Love, you’re helping families like ours—and hundreds more—receive the tools, truth, and support they need to navigate FASD and foster care with hope.
