When Kurt and Lisa Brown moved to California in 2019, they were ready for a new adventure. Empty nesters, with Lisa’s two sons grown and on their own, the couple dreamed of fresh starts and open possibilities. What they didn’t expect was that the greatest adventure of all would begin with a billboard. 

Meet the Family

Could you introduce yourselves and share a bit about your family?

Hi. It seems surreal to be writing this because I love reading this newsletter every time we get it in the mail. We are the Browns—Kurt and Lisa—and we are adopting a sibling set of five biological siblings (our little loves: Ayden, Katelyn, Liam, Hannah, and Harper).

We became resource parents in March of 2023, and our kids were our very first placement. We did have another little guy for a few hours, but he was quickly reunited with his extended biological family the same day.

Kurt does not have any biological children but has been a very involved stepfather to our now adult sons, Kyle (27) and Jason (25), since 2017. He was also a loving stepdad in his first marriage to two children.

We initially accepted the placement of two children—a 13-day-old girl (Hannah) and a 15-month-old boy (Liam)—in March 2023. We were quickly approached to see if we would open our home to their two siblings, Ayden and Katelyn. We did, and by May 2023, we had four children: ages 2 months, 17 months, 3.5, and 7.

But our story wasn’t finished. In May 2024, we received a call from San Bernardino DCF asking if we would take another sibling. We were not aware at the time, but the children’s birth parents had a fifth child, who was in the NICU and entering care. We brought her home at just six days old.

How did you find All For Kids, and why did you choose to foster or foster-adopt through this agency?
What was your experience like with All For Kids? How did All For Kids make you feel?

We found out about All For Kids from a billboard on the 57 freeway, just a few minutes from our home. I would see it every day on my way to work, and the slogan on the billboard was “Be the reason siblings stay together.”  Talk about foreshadowing!

We had looked into another agency, but All For Kids just felt right from the beginning. Everyone we met—Bonnie, Beatriz, Cathy, and the best social worker in the world, Brenda Garcia—has been with us every step of the way. Anything we ever needed was always met with care, compassion, and efficiency (which doesn’t always happen in the adoption/foster care world).

I say it all the time—Brenda and I could take over the world if we worked together! The whole team made us feel fully supported, understood, and genuinely cared for. Brenda has been my constant source of encouragement, and “Miss Brenda” is loved by the whole family.

If you could describe your experience with All For Kids in one word, what would it be?
Supported.

What inspired you to become resource parents, and how has it changed your life?

After raising two boys to adulthood in Florida, we relocated to California in 2019, looking for an adventure as empty nesters. It was always in both of our hearts to foster, even before we met. Seeing the way Kurt cared for me and my boys made me feel like, with him as a partner, I could jump back into parenthood for another round (or five!).

I could talk for hours about how much parenting these children has changed our lives. For one, being a “girl mom” was always something I had prayed for but thought was unattainable. Well, instead of one daughter, we now have three perfect little girls (and four boys)!

It has also allowed us to be part of the coolest club—the foster/adoptive parent gang.

What was the process of becoming a resource parent, and how long did it take?

The process wasn’t hard—just a good amount of paperwork. But the staff at All For Kids kept us motivated, and we were licensed in about six months. We completed PRIDE training online, and now, two years later, I get to be part of the parent panel during training.

It’s an honor to share our experience with parents just starting this journey. I really love doing this.

How have you helped the children transition back to their families? What was that like for you?

Our path has been different than most—we have not experienced family reunification. Every situation is different, and this was ours.

What were the birth parents/family like, and how much contact do you have with them? How did you incorporate the birth parents/family into your child’s life?

We have not met or had much contact with the birth family due to safety reasons. However, we always speak kindly about them, and we have family photos that we’ll share when appropriate.

We talk about adoption often and share what we’ve learned of their stories. We also participate in several adoption support groups as a family and are very active in the foster/adoptive community.

What challenges have you faced as a resource parent, and what have you learned?

We’ve experienced challenges like court delays, setbacks due to a flawed system, and helping our children heal from trauma.

We’ve pursued ongoing training, built a strong foster/adoptive support community, and learned to cherish every memory we make together. We’ve grown so much as parents. I remember feeling overwhelmed with just two kids at a restaurant—now we’ve taken several road trips with five little ones and survived four cross-country flights!

What advice would you offer to other families considering fostering or foster-adoption?

The need for loving, advocating families is so great. It has not been an easy journey, but every hard moment has been worth it. The love brought into our lives by our children, our community, and our support system has been immeasurable.

Build your support team. Ask for help and accept it when it’s offered. Find a support group that works for you—it’s so helpful to talk to people who understand this unique journey.

Tell us about your children today and their interests.

  • Ayden (9) loves playing chess, baseball, making paper airplanes, and is doing great in school.

  • Katelyn (5) loves pink, the beach, and dressing up.

  • Liam (3) loves puzzles, his blanket, garbage trucks, and anything round like a ball.

  • Hannah (2) loves her daddy, Ms. Rachel, and visiting Auntie Pat and Uncle Alex.

  • Harper (1) loves exploring, watching her siblings, and going on walks with Daddy.

How do you celebrate your family’s unique story with your children?

We talk openly about their first family and take lots of pictures to create memories. We’re a multiracial family, and we celebrate the different cultures that make us who we are.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your journey or experience?

Just this—trust that you are more capable than you think. We never imagined this would be the adventure we moved to California for. But we are so incredibly blessed with love because we were willing to say yes.