'Ideal' foster care family getting results by taking in needy kids, promoting program to others

German and Danae Fuentes say helping kids in need has become their life mission

ORLANDO, Fla. – Today in Central Florida there are nearly 700 children in the foster care system. Kids who have been abused or neglected and have been placed in temporary homes.

Foster care recruiters say there is always a need for more families to take these children in.   

When German and Danae Fuentes decided to open their home to a foster child, they had no idea of the changes it would bring.

"For many years we had the desire to work with children," German Fuentes says. "So we decided to move forward with something we have thought about for years."

The Fuenteses went through a training program offered by Community Based Care of Central Florida, the child welfare organization that places foster kids with eligible families. The day they earned their license they brought home their first foster child.

Fuentes says it took some time but he and his wife quickly got used to having a toddler in the house again.

"It's a lot of work but it's also pretty rewarding," he said.

So rewarding in fact that they have invited seven more children into their home in the last nine months.

"One thing I can tell you for sure," Danae Fuentes says."We've become really good at changing diapers lately." 

"Some people think were a little crazy," German says. "But you know if you can take care of one, you can take care of two. And if you can take care of two, why not three."

The Fuentes even purchased a minivan to accommodate their new life. "There was not enough room for all the car seats."

Kyraneshia Coleman, Foster Parent Recruiter for Community Based Care, calls them the ideal foster family.

"They are amazing," she says. "Being in their home and seeing the way they love on the children, it's just inspiring."

Coleman says the fact that they've begun recruiting other families to consider foster care sets them apart. "They have jumped in and started running. The fact that they promote foster care, they're bringing it into their church," she continues. "They're doing everything that we would want potential foster parents to do, spread the word."

The Fuentes say helping kids in need has become their life mission and it's brought them more joy than they ever imagined.

"We're looking to make a difference in these kids lives because it feels good you know. We feel that's what we're supposed to do on this Earth and care for people that need the help. We're very happy to do so." 

You can learn more about becoming a foster parent on the Community Based Care website: www.protectandinspire.org 


About the Author:

Paul is a Florida native who graduated from the University of Central Florida. As a multimedia journalist, Paul enjoys profiling the people and places that make Central Florida unique.

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