During National Foster Care Awareness Month, a Northern Kentucky organization is bringing attention to the urgent need for foster and adoptive families—through the powerful story of someone who lived it.
On May 11, DCCH Center for Children and Families will host its annual Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner, honoring the families who open their homes to children in need. The private event will feature a keynote address from Miss Kentucky 2025, Ariana Rodriguez, whose journey through the foster care system—and eventual rise to a statewide title—offers a deeply personal perspective on the impact of foster care.
Rodriguez, a 20-year-old University of Kentucky student studying social work and psychology, spent time in foster care as a child, was never adopted, and experienced periods of homelessness before ultimately finding stability and purpose. Today, she uses her platform to advocate for youth in foster care through her initiative, “The Lucky Ones,” which focuses on dignity, empowerment, and opportunity for children facing similar circumstances.
“This is more than a story of success — it’s a reminder of what’s at stake,” said Ron Bertsch, DCCH director. “Every child deserves the chance to feel safe, supported, and valued. Foster families play a critical role in making that possible.”
May is nationally recognized as Foster Care Awareness Month, a time when organizations and communities across the country highlight the needs of children in foster care and the families who support them.
In Kentucky, the need remains significant, with thousands of children currently in out-of-home care, with a continued need for qualified foster families.
DCCH, which serves children and families across more than 40 counties in Kentucky, is using this month to both honor existing foster parents and urge local families to consider a life-changing role many don’t realize they are already capable of: becoming a safe, stable home for a child in need.
“Many people assume they’re not qualified to foster,” Bertsch said. “But the truth is, many of the families who make the biggest difference started with that same uncertainty. They didn’t have all the answers — they just had a willingness to help.”
DCCH is encouraging new families to consider taking the first step — just talk with them
The May 11 appreciation event will recognize dozens of foster families currently serving through DCCH’s Therapeutic Foster Care and Adoption Program, many of whom have supported children for years—and in some cases, decades.
These families provide more than a place to stay. They offer consistency, structure, patience, and care to children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma.
“You don’t have to be perfect to foster,” said Bertsch. “You just need to be willing to provide consistency, care, and a safe place for a child to begin healing.”
Since its founding, DCCH has helped thousands of children and families across more than 40 counties in Kentucky through therapeutic foster care, adoption services, residential treatment, counseling, and independent living support. Each year, the organization works with children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and complex trauma — many of whom are waiting for stable homes.
While many foster care campaigns focus on the needs of children, DCCH is taking a different approach this month—speaking directly to the adults who may feel quietly called to help.
“Many of the families we work with didn’t start out feeling ‘qualified,’” said Kristen Franks, VP of advancement. “They started with a question—‘Could we do this?’—and discovered that opening their home didn’t just impact a child’s life. It transformed their own.”
Through its Healing Stories initiative, DCCH shares real experiences from foster and adoptive families—stories that reflect not only the challenges, but the profound sense of purpose and transformation and lasting impact.
“Foster care changes a child’s life,” said Franks. “But it often changes the lives of the families who say yes, too.”
DCCH emphasizes that foster parents come from a wide range of backgrounds, including married couples, single adults, experienced parents, and even empty nesters looking for a meaningful next chapter.
The most important qualities, according to the organization, are:
• Stability and a safe home environment
• Patience and willingness to learn
• A supportive network – family, friends, or community
• A genuine desire to help a child heal
“People often disqualify themselves before they even start the conversation,” said Bertsch. “We want families in Northern Kentucky to know—they may be more ready than they think.”
“You don’t have to have everything figured out,” he said. “You just have to be willing to take the first step.”
DCCH Center for Children and Families