A Family’s Journey to Supporting Foster and Adoptive Families

When Janelle and Joe Fuentes married, they shared a vision: foster care or adoption would be part of their family's story. Joe's family had adopted domestically, and Janelle's parents had experience as foster and adoptive parents. This shared legacy of nurturing children in need was woven into their family DNA. However, the couple didn't know how, when, or where their journey would unfold.

In 2013, the Fuentes family, which now included two biological children, answered the call from God and began their journey to becoming foster parents. Their first step was to complete training through Project 1.27 before becoming licensed.  Their commitment led them to foster three children, adopting two of them.   After this, they decided to close their foster license, believing their family was complete.

The Need for Support
Throughout their time as foster parents, Janelle and Joe discovered the importance of robust support systems. They attended various support groups but struggled to find one that felt like the right fit. Recognizing this gap, they approached their pastor, Dan Freng, who was also a foster and adoptive parent through Project 1.27. One that, above all, encouraged parents with the gospel and pointed them to Jesus as their source of strength and the ONE who can equip them for this challenging calling! 

Building Tapestry Ministry
The Fuentes family's vision for their ministry extended beyond just providing a space to vent frustrations. They aimed to create an informative, supportive, and growth-oriented group. To ensure their meetings met the requirements for foster parents to earn training hours, Janelle collaborated with several county Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies. In 2017, the Tapestry Ministry at Calvary Littleton was born. In a testament to their commitment, the first meeting was held the day after the Fuentes family received a new placement.  We know how chaotic those first few days with a placement can be. 

Since its inception, the Tapestry Ministry has faithfully met one Friday night each month from 6:00 to 8:00 PM for seven years, including meeting via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each meeting begins with a family dinner, where children and parents dine together. Afterward, Janelle and Joe provide free childcare, enabling parents to participate in uninterrupted group time. The structured group sessions often feature guest speakers covering parenting, marriage, and trauma. At other times, they engage in book studies. Meetings typically conclude with a prayer time where families can pray for one another, fostering a sense of support.

The Fuentes family found that maintaining a focus for each meeting was crucial to the group's success. While occasional casual catch-up sessions are valuable, too many unstructured meetings hinder the group's growth and purpose.

Janelle shared her insights on establishing a successful foster and adoptive support group:

1. Leverage Church Support: Partnering with a church lends credibility to your group and helps maintain accountability for leaders.
2. Plan Ahead: Schedule your meetings for the entire year, allowing ample time to secure speakers and ensuring that each gathering has meaningful content.
3. Foster Inclusion: Be intentional about welcoming new families. Janelle or Joe personally reach out to new attendees to learn about their family dynamics, such as the ages of their children and the schools they attend. They then connect newcomers with existing members who share commonalities. A follow-up call after the meeting further reinforces inclusion and support.
4. Unified Leadership: Ensure that group leadership is a joint effort. For couples, the ministry should not feel like a task belonging to just one partner.

Looking Ahead
The Tapestry Ministry has become a beacon of support for foster and adoptive families in their community. By blending practical resources with spiritual nourishment, Janelle and Joe Fuentes have created a thriving group that embodies their commitment to fostering and adoption. Their journey reminds us that faith, intentionality, and teamwork make it possible to create lasting change and a sense of belonging for families navigating the challenges of fostering and adoption.

If your church wants more information about starting a Foster or Adoptive support group, please contact Kym Schnittker at [email protected].

Kym Schnittker, Community Engagement and Events Manager