Meet Bernice, an LSSI foster parent and superhero.
Bernice began fostering in 1995 and has welcomed over 50 children of all ages and races into her home. She has accepted some of the most challenging placements, kids for whatever reason who are not able to placed quickly in other foster homes. On many occasions, she has taken in children with no belongings. Though she started out taking in only very young children, later she expanded to accept older adolescents and teens, who are harder to place in foster homes than younger children.
“Everyone deserves a chance.” This mantra is one Bernice has shared countless times with Donna, her licensing representative in LSSI’s Augustana office in Chicago since 2015.
Bernice’s approach to fostering, as shared with Donna, is that foster parents must put themselves in the child’s place and help children over daily hurdles that are unique to them and their own situations. Bernice treats each child in foster care the same as she treats her biological children, starting the moment they enter her home. When children are on track to return home, she tries to communicate with the child’s birth parents as much as possible to help ease that transition.
One child in Bernice’s care experienced Christmas for the first time together with Bernice. The child awoke to a house full of Christmas gifts and was in disbelief that several of the gifts were for her. She cried and hugged Bernice, telling Bernice that she had never had a Christmas before. That child eventually returned home to her father and moved to another state, but she still calls Bernice often and expresses gratitude for the difference Bernice made in her life.
Bernice’s heart and home continue to be full. She has five biological daughters ages 39 to 52 and seven adopted children ages 10 to 31. She has 17 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Currently living with her are her two youngest adopted children and one child in foster care. She continues to be a resource for the LSSI Augustana Licensing team and happily shares her experiences with new foster parents.
Bernice, we salute you! Thank you for all you do to make a difference in the lives of children every day.
