Step One

The first step for doing foster care in the State of Washington anyways is to take P.R.I.D.E classes that are offered for free from the State of Washington. They are about 30 something hours long. This has been the step that until this time we never got past.

We have been here in the State of Washington for three years now. In that time we have signed up to take these classes three to five times or something like that. The first four times was directly through the State. We even went to most of them but did not complete them in the time we needed. Mostly because as we were taking them my husband’s unit needed to go get training for their upcoming deployment to Iraq (This was in 2008). After he got back we tried a couple other times but something (I know now it was God) kept us from going. The fifth and final time we did finally complete it. This time though it was with our agency who offered it. It was from Youth for Christ. I have to say it was the way God wanted us to take these classes with His perspective involved in it. Of course you can not get God’s perspective from the State run classes unfortunately that would be against the law if they did. I am so glad that we did get to take them and see just how God looks at this. Because of these classes we are now looking at this as a mission field and not just foster care.

On a side note I would just like to take a moment to say how great I think it is to have an agency like Youth for Christ. I know that my husband and I would not of followed through if it was not for such a great agency. From what I hear from people who have worked with them for long periods of time is that they are great and they really care about the kids and also the foster families. They also pray about who to call as well unlike the state who looks at a list and just picks up the phone. I am not bashing the State they have really tough jobs and a lot of laws and not enough hours in the day that prevent them from doing the things that YFC does. Anyway thank you YFC for making this journey much easier. We are so looking forward to working with you all!