Local Teachers Filling the Need for Fostering
Ukiah, CA - People come into fostering for a variety of reasons and from very different backgrounds. One of our community’s recent approved homes with Redwood Community Services is that of Christi Loomis and Kyle Nuss, both teachers at Oak Manor Elementary School in Ukiah.
Christi and Kyle both came from very supportive and loving families and were drawn to working with children, helping those that need additional support. They met when both were working at a YMCA and have continued to work with children and youth ever since. Christi teaches kindergarten and Kyle teaches PE for grades K-6th. Growing up in such a supportive and stable environment and with their shared work experience, both understood it is not the reality for everyone and thus began their journey to fostering.
“I always had a strong passion for working with kids and I love helping them find their potential,” shares Kyle. Both have seen children in their classes that come and go through the foster care system. This inspired them that now was the right time to foster. “We had planned to wait until after our wedding, thinking it would be more difficult to be approved as foster parents before that, but COVID-19 delayed wedding plans and we were thrilled to find that there were no additional steps to take not being married,” says Christi.
Both Christi and Kyle share that they have seen multiple children join and leave their classes in the middle of the school year due to foster care placement moves. It is typical for both to have at least one student who is in a foster care placement at any given time with many changing schools during a school year due to placement changes. As of February 10, 2021 Mendocino County Child and Family Services reported there were 207 Mendocino County child welfare youth in care showing the need for stable and loving homes. “We see the need first-hand in our classes. There are so many kids I have wished I could just take home but knowing I can’t is so incredibly difficult,” explains Christi.
The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) recently released a report: Child Maltreatment 2018, stating that Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies received a national estimate of 4.3 million referrals involving approximately 7.8 million children. Of those referrals, professionals including teachers, police officers, lawyers, and social services staff accounted for 67.3 percent. As in past years, education personnel accounted for the largest percentage of reporters at 20.5%.
“School personnel are frequently one of the top mandated reporter categories to notice and make suspected child abuse reports. This is due to school personnel having regular contact with children and they are often able to notice unusual changes in children or identify signs or behaviors in children that are not developmentally appropriate for the child's age. We rely on school personnel to bring to our attention suspected child abuse and neglect so we can assess child safety and provide services and supports to them and their families when needed,” comments Jena Conner, Deputy Director Mendocino County HHSA Family & Children’s Services.
While working directly with children in the child welfare system through their roles as teachers, Christi and Kyle know that parenting can look different at home than in the classroom. Kyle and Christi are both very open to working as a team to support the children coming into their home, “we haven’t been parents before but feel our experience teaching will be a benefit and are finding that the support of our agency helps to answer any questions we have and increases our confidence.”
When asked what advice they have for people who may be considering adopting, both stressed the importance of having confidence and keeping the children center of every decision. “If your fear is possible behaviors that isn’t a reason to not pursue fostering. There are all types of kids out there needing our help. If you have a deep desire to help kids that is all you need, you have crossed the finish line already,” Kyle closes his interview with possible one of the best comments to bring to the forefront what fostering is all about.
Incorporated in 1995, Redwood Community Services provides services to children, youth, families and adults in Mendocino, Lake & Humboldt Counties. Beginning with the implementation of a Foster Family Agency in 1995 providing foster homes for children & youth in Mendocino County; Redwood Community Services has built a continuum of programs including behavioral health, crisis services, youth and adult residential, substance use disorder programs and youth resource centers. For more information about services Redwood Community Services provides please call 707-467-2000 or visit their website at www.redwoodcommunityservices.org.
-Willow Anderson, Communications and PR Manager
Photo: Christi Loomis and Kyle Nuss, newly approved foster parents