Barker is blessed with a wonderful group of foster parents who provide interim care for some of the babies for a period of a few weeks or months, until the baby either returns to the birth family or joins the adoptive family.

While most of our foster placements are short term, such care is sometimes vital and may be used to provide decision-making time for the birth parents, to conduct medical tests for the baby, to complete legal arrangements, or to seek the appropriate adoptive family. Each foster family is required to complete a home study with a social worker, as well as take the required training on CPR and use of car seats. Annual education hours are required, and Barker hosts regular, monthly continuing education meetings.

Barker's foster family community is extraordinarily experienced and committed.

When a baby is in their home, they care for the child and advocate for the child as if he or she were their own. The foster families are also trained to understand and accept that another family will be the "forever family." The loving and personalized care given to children by Barker's trained foster families ensures that each child's journey to permanency begins in a safe and caring home.