Salvation Army Comm. Ctr. 1151
Bushwick Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11221

Anchor Parent:

• Janet Stevens

Frank is the reason Janet became a foster parent. Frank had been abandoned by his mother as a child and adopted at a young age. Subsequently, authorities learned that Frank’s adopted mother was abusing him. This began a long chain of placements in various homes and eventually, at the age of 11, he was placed in a group home.

Janet was living with her 11-year old son and mother when she met Frank. Her son had befriended Frank and he would often come home to have dinner in Janet’s home. Frank came to Janet one day and asked if he could come and live with her. At the time, Janet did not know anything about being a foster parent, but felt that she could give it a try because she cared so much about Frank.

Janet went to Frank’s group home and was told that he had a problem with stealing and this would continue to be a problem in her home. Janet spoke with Frank and they both decided that she would take him in and together they would work on his problem. Frank stayed with Janet and her family on the weekends for six months. After Janet became a licensed foster parent, Frank moved into her home. He was 12 years old at the time.

For the first two years, Janet describes the time as being very difficult. Frank would steal everything from money to food to shoes. Janet said she would sit down and talk about it with him every time it occurred, but he would not stop. She said she would take him to church and pray that things would get better.

Janet says that she came very close to sending Frank back to the group home, but decided in the end that she would not because she did not want to further traumatize him. Frank had been in so many homes and through so many families that she was dedicated in making their relationship work.

When Frank was 15, Janet gave birth to her daughter. After that, Frank stopped stealing completely. He even went to her and told her that he finally felt that he was part of the family because he was with Janet through her pregnancy and when she gave birth.
Janet was asked if she was willing to adopt Frank and she agreed. For a long time, caseworkers came and went and the paperwork for the adoption was delayed. By this time Frank had turned 17 and was not going to school, so the agency decided to place Frank in Job Corp, an education and training program.

Janet maintained contact with Frank while he was in Job Corp, but he later became involved with a drug dealer. Frank began to take Angel Dust and this is when he had his first psychotic break. When Janet finally saw him, she could not believe his terrible condition. The agency was no longer providing a stipend for Frank because he was not in her care, and he was in bad shape. She admitted him into hospital and stayed by his side for 8 months. Frank was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. The agency eventually became involved and began to assist Janet in caring for Frank financially.

Frank remained with Janet until he was 23 years old. He found a job in Boston and decided to move there. Today Frank continues to live in Boston and is currently in a residence for the mentally ill and will soon be assisted in finding his own apartment. Frank is able to function on his own as long as he takes his medication.

Of all the children who have been with Janet, she remembers Frank’s story the most because Frank is still a big part of her life. Even though he was never adopted, she considers him to be her son.

Janet has now been a foster parent for over 14 years and takes teenagers only. She feels strongly that the teens need direction and someone to guide them. She shares this idea with other foster parents at monthly Circle of Support meetings where she is the Anchor Parent leader. Circle of Support is New York City’s growing network of community based support groups for foster and adoptive parents. Janet and more than 500 foster and adoptive parents belong to this network and have created a community where “help is close to home.”