Misty Montague is a Family Therapist Supervisor for KVC Kansas. In this role, she helps families overcome struggles so that they can safely remain together. This story describes how she took in and cared for her friends’ children when they had to enter foster care. 

When two friends of Misty Montague struggled with substance use, their children had to enter foster care. Knowing that a disruption like this would be traumatizing for her friend’s children, Misty decided to care for them while their parents worked towards reunification (a process known as kinship placement). That way, the children could feel safe with someone they already knew and could keep most of their routines. Growing up in a home with parents struggling with addiction, the children had developed some challenging behavioral issues, such as acting out in public, which made it difficult for them to connect with others.

Even through the difficult times, Misty remained patient and was happy to work with the children’s parents, knowing that the children needed to be safely reunited. She was essential in getting treatment for each child’s mental health needs and helping them find therapy to deal with the trauma they had experienced.

Through therapy and learning new skills, the children developed healthier ways to express their emotions. Where public outbursts were once commonplace, she stuck by the children until those behaviors became a thing of the past. Misty spent her weekends meeting with the family at the park and frequently included them in family outings. The family belonged to a Native American tribe, and their culture was very important to them. While caring for these children, Misty learned many of the customs of the tribe to keep the children connected to it.

Unfortunately, the parents continued to struggle with substance use and a safe reunification would not be possible. The father was incarcerated and the mother frequently relapsed. One day, Misty received a letter from the father asking her to consider adopting their two children, hoping she could provide them a safe, stable, loving home with someone he trusted.

The court made the decision to terminate parental rights and the two children became available for adoption. Misty knew that she could provide a home for the children she had been caring for and happily began the adoption process, which was finalized in 2018.

Now, Misty and the two children are a family. She gladly still involves the children’s extended family in their lives. Also, Misty continues to provide a home and love for youth in foster care. She has since welcomed three separate sibling sets into her home. She went from a Prius to a minivan and couldn’t be happier.

There are more than 7,600 Kansas children and teens in foster care, and you can change a child’s life by becoming a foster parent! Fostering provides a child who has experienced abuse or neglect with a safe, loving environment. On top of this, it gives you the opportunity to show a child the love and care they deserve while growing emotionally, mentally and spiritually as you teach life skills and give support. Click here to learn more!