With a growing need for foster parents in the state, one Putnam County family says fostering changed their life.
Chip and Amanda Rist always wanted to be parents and previously considered private adoption before thinking about fostering older children with the hopes of adoption.
ƵItƵs been a long journey as far as parenthood goes,Ƶ Amanda Rist said. ƵWeƵve never been able to biologically have children, and itƵs always been on our hearts to adopt in some way, shape or form. We thought, ƵThereƵs children out there already in foster homes or in the system, and they need a good, loving family.ƵƵ
In December 2023, the Rists took notice of Necco signs posted in the area and agreed the time was right. Amanda Rist called and asked what they needed to do to begin fostering. The couple immediately signed up for classes, thinking when they were finished with the process they would wait a few months before taking in their first foster children.
ƵWe took a leap of faith, did the classes and when we did our last class and our house was open and ready, we were not going to do it right away,Ƶ Amanda Rist said. ƵLiterally, the next week, we get a call. They sent us the pictures of two boys who were in a temporary home seeking long-term placement. We met them and fell in love the first day.Ƶ
The Rists recently celebrated their one-year anniversary of becoming a family, with their two elementary aged boys equally as excited as Chip and Amanda. They met in May 2024 and initially had the boys on the weekends. By July 2, 2024, the boys had officially moved in.
The Rists were eager to share their adventures and love for the outdoors with their foster children.
ƵWeƵre always on the go,Ƶ Amanda Rist said. ƵWe have a little cabin in Ohio. We have a close-knit family we visit a lot. WeƵre always going to state parks and different adventures; ChipƵs very active and likes to fish and ride mountain bikes. So we had a lot to share our life with.Ƶ
Network of support
With its support and services, Amanda Rist said Necco made the process of receiving and maintaining certifications easy, and the organization has been supportive of their travels.
ƵTheyƵre very good about coming in and checking in, and weƵve been really pleased with the accommodations for our cabin,Ƶ she said. ƵYou have to have special approval for out of state, and we have not had an issue. TheyƵve been very supportive of our Tri-State travels and have done everything they can in their power to help us out.Ƶ
The Rist family says theyƵre fortunate to be able to support and provide for their two boys, but foster family assistance is available in the state through Necco and partnering organizations.
ƵThey do have a good network of support for respite weekends, so if you have a weekend you know youƵre going out of town or you have something ahead of time, theyƵll arrange respite for a Necco-approved family to take in those children for a weekend,Ƶ Amanda Rist said.
Foster resources in the Putnam County community include Heartbeat of the Valley Putnam County Family Support Center, which offers free tutoring, back-to-school supplies, extra clothing, diapers and more, according to Jessica Harrison, Necco licensing specialist. Many churches in the community also offer foster resources, including clothing closets for foster children at Teays Valley Church of God and Teays Valley Baptist.
ƵItƵs a big network of community,Ƶ Harrison said. ƵA lot of our churches are eager to help. River Ridge Church has a family advocacy ministry program called Foster Ƶ. They wrap support and services around foster, adoptive or kinship families. ItƵs so wonderful to see how Putnam County comes together to help children and the foster families in need.Ƶ
A path to family
Now, the Rists are in the process of adopting the two boys, working closely with Necco, the boysƵ state social worker and their guardian ad litem.
ƵThey are such a wonderful family, and theyƵre just good, well-rounded people who wanted to help and ended up building their family through foster care,Ƶ Harrison said. ƵIt happens a lot. When people want to adopt, IƵm like, ƵWell, try fostering first.Ƶ WeƵre constantly trying to get the word out.Ƶ
Thanks to the state providing benefits, adopting the boys will be a no-cost burden to the family, Amanda Rist said.
ƵNecco gave us the name of an adoption lawyer before we even started,Ƶ she said. ƵItƵs just like any court system; itƵs a little bit nerve-wracking and a long process. ItƵs probably going to be six months to a year, and thatƵs OK. We just let the boys know that this is their home, and thereƵs nothing thatƵs going to change.Ƶ
Throughout their fostering journey, Chip Rist said something that has surprised him is how resilient children are. Their two boys are thriving in their new home and in school, earning straight Ƶ and participating in afterschool sports. TheyƵve seen positive emotional changes in their children throughout the past year as well, such as communicating their thoughts and needs and expressing their feelings.
ƵKids are like rubber Ƶ they just bounce back from anything at all, and as soon as these guys got in a stable atmosphere, you saw them take off,Ƶ Chip Rist said. ƵYou think about everything they go through; if IƵd gone through that or if I went through that now, I wouldnƵt be able to function. TheyƵre kids. They just overcome it, and theyƵre almost like magic.Ƶ
Chip and Amanda have experienced many firsts with their boys, including taking them on vacation to the beach for the first time.
ƵItƵs funny to see what the kids are capable of doing,Ƶ Chip Rist said. ƵWe never stop being surprised. I donƵt think itƵs any different from any parent. In a year, your kid can develop a lot, and a lot can change.Ƶ
Diverse homes wanted
There are nearly 6,000 children in foster care in West Virginia. Necco accepts families of all types to foster, including single mothers, single fathers, married couples, cohabiting couples, same-sex couples and any individual 21 or older.
ƵWe need diverse families, because we get a wide variety of children,Ƶ Harrison said. ƵThere are over 6,000 children right now in the foster care system, and some of these are kinship. Some of them are in foster homes. Once families adopt, they typically close (their home), and our need is to continue to find more foster homes.Ƶ
Necco has children from birth to age 21 in need of fostering, including sibling groups. Through NeccoƵs pairing system, foster families are matched with children to best suit them and their homes, routines and lifestyles.
ƵEverybody has their own age range of children that they might be able to help, and thatƵs OK,Ƶ Harrison said. ƵIf you think that you can only help a teen, thatƵs OK. Or if you think you could only do two children ages 6 to 10, thatƵs OK. We will help match you with the age or gender of the child that youƵre able to help because thereƵs so many that are coming through, they all need help and need that fresh start.Ƶ
It can be hard to determine how many children in Putnam County are placed in foster care, as they can be placed from all over the state, Harrison said.
ƵWe get kids from all over the state and especially other counties where they donƵt have as many foster homes; they may send us the referral for the child, and then we would have a home here,Ƶ she said. ƵSome families may not want a child from their county. Every case is different.Ƶ
Starting the process
Once potential foster families reach out to Necco, they begin the home-opening process, which involves classes; home interviews and visits; background checks; paperwork, including an autobiography; a certification checklist; and safety requirements.
ƵUsually it takes three times for a family to give us a call,Ƶ Harrison said. ƵTheyƵll see one of our yard signs, they will hear about foster care and then they start to talk about it. We get inquiries, and then I reach out to them and give them a call.
ƵWe want to get to know them on a personal level,Ƶ she continued. ƵWeƵre here to make sure we make a good fit for moving the child. They talk to us about what theyƵre able to handle, and we talk to them about the children that we get in our care.Ƶ
Necco support services include a 24/7 on-call crisis support hotline, a case manager assigned to the home, twice-a-month reimbursement, behavioral health services, respite care and more. Harrison said foster families are not on this journey alone.
ƵYou have a team of people helping you along with this process of raising a child,Ƶ she said. ƵThe state is helping financially and with insurance. WeƵre here to help guide for whatever the child needs. We want to help the family in any way we can. If youƵre able and willing, why not help a child in need and make a difference in a childƵs life? WeƵre giving you all the tools you need. All you have to do is be able and willing, short term or long term.Ƶ
ƵThe best decisionƵ
Amanda Rist offered advice for those considering fostering.
ƵIf itƵs in your heart and itƵs on your mind to do it, do it,Ƶ Amanda Rist said. ƵJust take that leap of faith, and if itƵs not for you, thatƵs OK. But you may be surprised at not only how you can change their lives but how these children can change you.
ƵIƵll be honest, we are the most cautious people youƵll ever meet,Ƶ she continued. ƵBut these are just kids, and if you can just provide time, love, support and the structure they need, thatƵs all you need and thatƵs all they really want. They donƵt want stuff Ƶ of course, stuffƵs great, theyƵre typical kids Ƶ but itƵs not this scary thing that you think of, and it was the best decision weƵve ever made.Ƶ
Before beginning their fostering journey, the couple worried about becoming heartbroken if the children they took in would have to leave, but it is a selfless journey, Amanda Rist says.
ƵYou will be heartbroken, but itƵs not about you, itƵs not about your feelings,Ƶ she said. ƵItƵs about them. So if you go into fostering, you have to go into it for them. We were very fortunate, and weƵre very grateful that weƵve found each other.Ƶ
