Karen Addy 
Lead Clinical Specialist A’Nadia Anderson recruits and supports foster parents for an Upstate foster agency. So, when the 38-year-old, with her husband Desmond, decided to fulfill her own dream of becoming a foster parent, she felt well prepared. However, the reality of fostering – especially fostering a teen – came with some surprises. “I used … Read more
Has there ever been a time in your life when everything seemed to fall into place almost without effort, as if fate – or God – was pointing you forward? That was the extraordinary experience of Elena and Stephen, a couple in their early thirties who moved to South Carolina from Chicago four years ago … Read more
“You’re the best mommy I could ever ask for.” When 12-year-old Kylie first spoke those words to Epworth foster mom Jennifer Rule months ago, Jennifer nearly cried. It was, she said, a ‘melt’ moment. “A melt moment is when we know we’re getting to them and they are getting to us,” Jennifer said. Along with … Read more
Ripley, a 35- year-old divorced mom from the Upstate, works 50-60 hours a week at two jobs to provide for her daughters, 7-year-old Ivy and 14-year-old Emma. She is also attending school part-time to improve her earning potential. Ripley struggles to balance financial pressures with the need to spend quality time with her children. Like … Read more
By the time Mandy and her siblings were taken into foster care, the 16-year-old lagged nearly two grades behind her peers. She often found herself simply too exhausted to go to school. Instability at home had left Mandy with the day-to-day responsibility of looking after her six brothers and sisters. The teen also worked a … Read more
Many people recall childhood as a time of safety and comfort when mom or dad took care of everything. Eighteen-year-old Lily carries starkly different memories of childhood. “My dad was hugely addicted to alcohol,” Lily said. “He would promise to work and pay the bills, and he’d have a job for a couple of weeks, … Read more
During pre-marital counseling at their Baptist church, Sarah and Justin Weller were advised to think through where they wanted to be in five years as a couple. “We realized we both wanted to live our mission, to serve, to be a light in our community,” Sarah said. “We weren’t sure how we would do this, … Read more
When 10-year-old Charlie arrived at Epworth in 2021, he was a second grader who had been identified as a student with a developmental disability. He struggled both academically and behaviorally in school and was having a particularly difficult time with basic skills in reading and math. Like so many other children who arrive at Epworth … Read more
Growing up Natalie lacked a stable home life and dependable role models. At 16 years old, Natalie found herself making bad decisions and she became pregnant. Upon hearing the news of the unplanned pregnancy, her family asked her to leave home and suddenly, she no longer had a place to live. She was placed in … Read more
David* is a leader, a young man regarded by his peers at Epworth as someone to emulate, a friend to look up to. He is a hard worker with his mind set on a future that will lead to a career in science. David is also industrious, always looking for things to do to help … Read more
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