‘resource parent,’ instead of the ‘foster to adopt’
box. I chose ‘partnership parent’ simply because
I wasn’t sure I was ready to make the decision to
adopt.”
Emi had a case plan. She was not available
to adopt at the time of her initial placement.
“Only children available for adoption are placed
with ‘foster to adopt’ parents,” said Kailey. As a
partnership parent, you may get a child placed
with you regardless of whether they're available
for adoption or not. People have literally been
waiting for years simply because they are on the
‘foster to adopt’ list.”
The system is complicated, and much
change is needed. “There’s so much paperwork
involved, and the turnover rate for case workers
is a constant concern. Even after the process
toward adoption begins, a notice has to be in
the newspaper for a period of time to allow a
biological father or family member to come
forward. It can be a very long and complicated
process.”
In 2019, Senator Blake Tillery helped pass
legislation that would allow a foster parent who
cared for a child in foster care for six consecutive
months to be given first option to adopt if the
child became available for adoption. It was a
great victory for foster parents. “We also just
broke ground for a new Toombs County DFCS
office. Blake really worked hard to push the
funding through for that. It was a big need for
us,” said Kailey.
On September 11, 2019, at 1:30 p.m., DFCS
contacted Kailey. Emi had a newborn sister. Her
name was Ruthie. “Whenever a parent has a
child currently in foster care, protocol is a little
different. Ultimately, DFCS works to keep sibling
groups together,” said Kailey. “When DFCS
asked if I wanted to be a foster parent for Ruthie
as well, of course I said, ‘Yes.’”
On September 13, Ruthie had a seizure due
to pre-natal substance abuse. That night, she
was sent by ambulance to Memorial Hospital
in Savannah. Because her NAS (neonatal
abstinence syndrome) scores were so high, she
had to be placed on a morphine drip. The nurse
who received her in NICU was Brad and Gina
Lane’s daughter, Darby. “It was as if God had
already prepared someone from home to watch
over her,” she said. On September 30, 2019,
Kailey brought Emi’s sister home.
“I did not seek reelection for Vidalia City
Council in 2019.” Kailey smiled. “I’m kind of
busy now raising my girls.” Emi’s adoption was
finalized on October 31, 2019, and Ruthie’s less
than a year later on August 20, 2020.
“There are so many amazing people who
work hard to advocate for our children: DFCS
Where PEOPLE
come FIRST,
not only in our name.
912-524-2000
www.ourpeoplesbank.com
40 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE
/www.ourpeoplesbank.com