Did you know that November is National Adoption Month?
In honor of National Adoption Month, we're sharing the adoption story of one of our families - the Levitt's. The Levitt family never really envisioned that they would foster or adopt. But when they met Baylee, they knew that they were meant to be part of each other’s lives.
Ryan is a middle school teacher, which is how he first met Baylee. “Baylee was an awesome kid who had just been removed from his parent’s home and was living in a residential facility,” said Ryan. Ryan decided to get involved with D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s mentoring program to help mentor and support Baylee through the difficult changes going on in his life. “After spending lots of time with the family, we decided that we wanted to bring Baylee into our home, first through foster care, and then finally through adoption.”
“Watching the progress that Baylee has made under our care is truly amazing."
Adoption is a life-changing situation, as many would probably guess. While it’s important to celebrate the addition to your family, it is also important to acknowledge the trauma and loss that a child has been through. “We've had to learn that sometimes all we can do is be there for him and support him in a situation that I could never have conceived,” shared Ryan. “Watching the progress that Baylee has made under our care is truly amazing. We went from a child who couldn't function in a regular environment to one that has grown up working and providing for himself in many ways.”
“Our family motto is teamwork makes the dream work,” said Ryan. “It's been our rallying cry from the beginning. Often having to remind Baylee (and ourselves) that the family can only function if we work together. Together, we can accomplish just about anything.”
Do you feel called to foster and adopt and would like more information?
Check out our FAQ’s on adoption here and our FAQ’s on foster care here.
If you are interested in speaking with a staff member about adopting a child from the foster care system, please fill out the inquiry form below. We look forward to connecting with you and getting your questions answered.
Did you catch us on the news talking about National Adoption Month?
Missed our last post? Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
About Allyssa Murphy
Allyssa's journey in the nonprofit world began in 2016 when she started working as a marketing assistant at a small residential facility for foster children in Flint, Michigan. This is where her passion for advocating for children's rights began. She later joined the DABSJ team in 2017.
Her hobbies include planning vacations - but never taking them, game nights with friends, keeping up with the latest movies and TV shows, and visiting friends and family on the other side of the mitten.
Allyssa graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor's degree in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Nonprofit Administration. She also has an associate's degree in Media Arts from Mott Community College.