By Derek Bates
In determining the value of a plant, the answer doesn’t lie completely in the leaf, bloom, and fruit. It’s in the roots beneath the surface where true strength is found. And in what better way to be firmly rooted than in the idea of home?
Twelve years ago, Paige and Heath Wilson brought home their first adopted son, Isaiah, from Ethiopia. They saw opposing forces at work in the lives of adopted children first hand: The joys of being joined to a new family as well as the heartache and loss of what was left behind. It was out of this experience a burden in them was planted – to not want anyone to walk through life without knowing the love and support of family. And the vision has taken root.
In March of this year, the Wilsons of rural Montezuma launched Roots of Home, ministering to children and families within the foster care system in Iowa. Roots of Home’s vision statement is “Planting Seeds of Hope, Growing Strong Families.”
“Everyone deserves a family, no matter their age,” said Paige Wilson, Montezuma-native and mother of six. “Sometimes, all it takes is for someone to come alongside a family and offer hope and show them a way to make a different choice.”
Roots of Home’s purpose is focused on prevention.
The first goal is to prevent children from ever entering the foster care system by identifying and supporting vulnerable children in the community.
Secondly, there is a desire to prevent families currently in the foster care system from being separated permanently by providing a healing space for birth family visitations to take place and necessary resources for birth families to make their homes a safe place independent from the “system.”
And lastly, Roots of Home wants to prevent teenagers in the foster care from entering the adult world alone and without support by providing a transition home and program for them to age out of foster care.
“We want to provide them the stability of ‘home,’ and to help them begin a new legacy in their future families, ending generational cycles of foster care,” said Wilson.
Roots of Home is in the process of opening its Resource Center on Montezuma’s Main Street, which will serve many purposes.
The front of the building at 315 East Main Street has been carefully designed to feel comfortable, complete with a living room and a small kitchen. Most children within the foster care system are required to have visits with their biological families during their time in care. Typically, they occur in public places like parks, public libraries, or restaurants. The Wilsons are hoping to provide a place that feels more like home.
“Public places are not very conducive to quality family meetings, especially when these families are working hard to rebuild broken relationships. We wanted a place where they could get down on the living room rug and play like they would at home; a place with age-appropriate toys and activities; and a table where they could decorate cookies or play games,” said Wilson.
Roots of Home is growing a team of volunteers who will be trained to host those families in the Resource Center to help those visits become successful.
The back part of the building will be a resource room filled with clothing, shoes, baby items, and toys to give foster and kinship families when they receive new children in their home.
“It’s a big transition when children enter a new home, so we want to minimize the stress, so foster and kinship families can focus on loving the children coming into their homes,” added Wilson.
The space will also have a room dedicated to “First-Night Backpacks.” These bags, which will include a new pair of pajamas, toiletry items, snacks, and a few activities, will be picked up by social workers and given to children upon first entering foster care.
“The first night can be a very scary experience for a child, so we want them to know someone cares about them and they have something that is theirs,” said Wilson.
The Wilson family has begun sowing seeds, and have been encouraged at what has started growing.
“While we are nearing the day we will officially open our doors to families in foster care, the most amazing part of beginning this ministry has been all the people in our community and surrounding communities who have come together to help us finish the Resource Center or give of their time, talents, and treasures. They see the needs just like we do, and as I have met with people who work within our state’s foster care system, they all tell me the same thing, ‘Once the doors open, your phone will never stop ringing.’”
Roots of Home continues to build a team of volunteers who will pack backpacks, sort through donations, or become a host for birth family visitations. It is also seeking generous givers and monthly supporters who would like to continue meeting the needs of children and families in central Iowa.
Roots of Home’s long-term goal is to build a transition home and program for teenagers transitioning out of the foster care system.
“We can’t imagine the difficulties for someone in the system to face life on their own when they turn 18. In our nation, about 23,000 teens age out of the foster care system every year. We want to help in that transition by giving them the stability and support of home and family, so they can attend college or be given the skills to become excellent employees,” said Wilson. “We want them to have opportunities to begin new legacies in their future families.”
Ultimately, Roots of Home wants to see them grow.
Construction at the Resource Center is nearing completion. This past weekend, a crew of volunteers conducted a work day to get it all in order for an open House on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 5-7 p.m. The public is invited to attend. To learn more about Roots of Home, visit rootsofhome.org, sign up for our newsletter, or inquire about serving or becoming a financial partner.
*To learn about foster care in Iowa, you can read more at Four Oaks Family (iowafosterandadoption.org) or Lutheran Services in Iowa (lsiowa.org/foster-care-adoption).