Honoring a Legacy

How Meeting a Need helps Heal a Heart- 

Sometimes, the most meaningful gifts do more than meet a need—they carry a story, bring comfort in grief, and plant seeds of hope and healing that continue to grow long after they’re given. 

When the Morgan family made a generous donation in memory of a loved one and reached out about directing the gift to something tangible that was needed in the office of the new Adoption & Foster Care Clinic, it couldn’t have come at a better time.   

I work remotely as a development director, helping connect others to the mission and heart of our clinic. For months, I’d been using an aging laptop—doing my best to stretch its life to conserve clinic funds for more pressing needs. But let’s just say… the ole dinosaur had seen better days. It whirred like a 747 gearing up for takeoff and creaked under the weight of even the simplest tasks. Then, on the very day we received Jennifer’s donation, my trusty (and noisy) sidekick officially gave up the ghost. It wouldn’t turn on. Not even a flicker. 

That’s when this gift became more than generous—it became providential. 

 As a startup interdisciplinary medical/therapeutic clinic serving adoptive, foster, and kinship families across the Southeast United States, we face a daily challenge: providing high-quality, trauma-informed care, while keeping services affordable and accessible to families who need them most. Most professional clinics rely on insurance to cover their costs. But for us, insurance only covers a small fraction of what we do. To keep serving well—without turning families away—we depend on the generosity of donors to help fill the gap. 

When asked, “What tangible item do you need most?” I laughed a little and said, “Well… honestly? A computer.” But I hesitated because I didn’t think a laptop was the kind of gift someone would want to give in honor of a loved one. It didn’t feel visible enough or meaningful enough to the work we do, especially when the gift was in memory of a beloved family member. 

I imagined something more forward-facing—something patients and families would see when they walked in the peaceful, healing space that is the clinic. I mean, who hears of a donor plaque on a development director’s laptop? I meet with a lot of people, sure, but still… it felt too “behind the scenes” to matter that much. 

But God had a bigger story in motion. 

What I thought was a practical fix turned out to be something sacred. The Morgan family’s gift was a lifeline for me to be able to do my work. But even more powerful was the heart behind it. 

This donation was given in memory of Robert Morgan, a loved brother and son. After his passing, the family wanted to do something meaningful that would reflect who Robert was and what he loved: helping people, solving problems, and making life easier for others.  

Turns out, Robert was an IT guy… a computer was the ultimate way to honor the tech genius of the family, the guy who always knew how to fix anything. I was amazed! Jennifer and I both found ourselves in happy tears as we saw the story God was writing. 

This experience reminded me of something powerful: as the people who often get to connect passion and purpose, we don’t always get to decide what’s “appropriate” to ask for. We just present the needs. God does the weaving. He takes broken things—a crashed computer, a grieving heart, a gap in resources—and somehow brings hope, healing, and growth for all involved. 

He does it every day. We just have to be willing to ask—and to receive. 

Now, each time I sit down to work and see Robert’s name on the laptop I use, I am reminded that God brings beauty from the ashes and turns our generosity into streams of life for others who need to know His love and care. When I see “In loving memory of Robert Morgan” It’s more than a plaque, it’s a powerful reminder that God is in control. A reminder that we are all connected. That our stories matter. That the legacies of those we love can live on in the most practical, beautiful ways. 

A few weeks later, Jennifer, Robert’s sister, told me she would like to give her mother a photo of me working on the computer for Mother’s Day—a way to show how Robert’s legacy continues to be a gift to others. That gesture moved me deeply. Her gift not only met a real and urgent need for us at The Adoption and Foster Care Clinic—it brought peace, healing, and purpose to her family’s grief. 

And now, that same gift is helping us offer those very things to the children and families we serve. 

Because when generosity is rooted in love and guided by purpose, it creates something lasting. Something sacred. Something that grows. 

This is the kind of giving that changes lives—both for the giver and the recipient. It’s not just about dollars or donations. It’s about building something together. A family tree of support, rooted in love, growing stronger with every story, every gift, and every act of kindness. 

To the Morgan family: thank you for planting something beautiful and allowing us to share your story! 
To others considering how to give: may you be inspired to give in a way that matters deeply to you—because that’s the kind of giving that changes the world. 

🌱💻❤️ 
To support our mission or learn more about how your gift can grow lasting impact, visit [www.adoptionfosterclinic.org/give] 

Photo of Development Director, Annah Grace with the laptop provided by a generous gift

When I see “In loving memory of Robert Morgan” It’s more than a plaque, it’s a powerful reminder that God is in control. A reminder that we are all connected. That our stories matter. That the legacies of those we love can live on in the most practical, beautiful ways. 

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. Put Standardized Testing in Its Place: A Guide for Adoptive Parents of School Aged Kids.

While standardized tests are lengthy and academically comprehensive, they really only tell us one thing; Can your child transfer the information they have learned in school to a hyper controlled, rigorous testing apparatus? Basically, is your child a good test taker? (For me that answer was always a solid no.) Standardized tests do not quantify our child’s intelligence or potential. They do not even tell us if our child will or will not be a successful academic. But alas, most of our kids are often required to participate in this antiquated, tedious task. So, how do we make it more bearable for our kids that are terrible test takers or our kids that experience a significant amount of anxiety? Here are some thoughts that might help: 

• Take the pressure off, encourage your child to do their best and forget the rest. Let them know that you are proud of them for showing up and doing something hard (even though they may have not had a choice). Let them know you will celebrate once testing is over, regardless of the outcome, because they got through it. 

• Reach out to your child’s teacher or test administrator ahead of time and ask for the schedule of the tests, what the guidelines/rules are, where it will take place, and how long each testing segment will be. You can use this information to help set your child’s expectations for what the days will likely look like. 

• Make sure your child gets to bed at night and eats a good breakfast on the mornings of testing days, bonus points if that breakfast is rich in protein. Sleep and fuel will help set your child up for success. 

• Expect dysregulation after school, lower expectations and asks. Long testing days require our kids to hold a lot of things inside: anxiety, need for movement, need for sensory input, distractibility. etc. It is hard work! When they come home, they will not be able to hold all of that in anymore. They will likely be a mess. Create a home routine that helps regulate your child, and do not ask much of them in regard to additional responsibilities. This is a good time to give them a free pass on after school chores. 

• If your child has testing accommodations, reach out to your school/test administrator and ask how those accommodations will be provided for. Make sure to advocate for areas that you feel are not being adequately supported. 

• Lastly, if your child struggles on testing days and does not have testing accommodations, this is a great time to reach out to The Adoption and Foster Care Clinic. We have a highly skilled team that can provide a comprehensive assessment of your child and help to create a plan for a more successful and supportive school environment. Every child deserves a supportive school environment.   

Perceptions of Occupational Therapy’s Role in Pre- and Post- Adoptive Services

At The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic, we’re not only serving families—we’re also helping shape the next generation of medical providers who will continue this important work. This month, we had the privilege of hosting Anya Barg, an occupational therapy doctoral student from Huntington University, who traveled all the way from Indiana to observe Occupational Therapy’s Role in Pre- and Post-Adoptive Services with our team. (Pictured with Amy Elmore, Occupational Therapist)

We loved having Anya in our clinic and were inspired by her passion for adoption-competent, trauma-informed care. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:

Amy and Anya in the Shannon Waltchack Therapy Gym

“I learned so many lessons from shadowing the Adoption and Foster Care Clinic for two days. I would say that the biggest lesson that I took away is that it takes an adoption competent, trauma-informed interdisciplinary team to best support adoptive families as they navigate the complexities and challenges that might arise in their journey. A team approach provides a more holistic perspective on the needs of the child and family. A team approach also allows for greater understanding of the root cause of issues that might take place. I enjoyed getting to follow each professional throughout the day and see a glimpse of their scope of practice as well as how the team came together in meetings to shed light on different pieces of the puzzle. The advice they provided to families was practical and useful. I wish that more clinics like this existed, as I think many families would benefit from these resources and this interdisciplinary team approach. This experience was an awesome opportunity for me to witness the work and the heart of the Adoption and Foster Care Clinic in Alabama. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to visit and learn from you!

We are so grateful for students like Anya who are eager to learn and carry forward the mission of supporting adoptive and foster families. It’s our honor to help equip future providers with the skills and knowledge needed to make a lasting impact.

Four Tips for a Successful Spring Break with your Adopted Child.

Spring Break is a great time for families to get out of town and break free from the day to day. However, it is important for adoptive parents to keep in mind that things like leaving home, packing suitcases, staying in hotels, eating new foods, and being exposed to new environments can be very triggering for adopted children. These experiences can bring up memories related to their placement in your family, which can create big feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Here are tips to support your child during your spring break vacation:

1) Create a trip itinerary for your child.

A trip itinerary is a great way to prepare your child for what is ahead. It should start with the day you plan to start packing for your trip and should include information about travel, arrival time and location, sleeping arrangements, some of the things you will do there, and when you plan to return home. Bonus points if your itinerary includes relevant photos. Begin sharing this information with your child with enough time for them to process and ask questions, but not so much time that they ruminate over the upcoming event. This will vary depending on your child’s needs and developmental level. Make sure to keep the itinerary in an accessible location in your home so that they can access it as needed.

2) Plan for creature comforts and extra accommodations.

Being away from home and in an unfamiliar environment is likely to create some feelings of anxiety and dysregulation for your child. Plan ahead and bring their favorite snacks/foods, water bottle, sensory regulating items, and a lovey from home. It can also be helpful to travel with their pillow and blanket from home. Food is also a big source of comfort and security; it will be important to prepare meals that your child enjoys. Your child may also need extra accommodations, like close sleeping or support with tasks that they typically have mastered at home.

3) Try to keep important parts of your schedule the same.

One way to help reduce your child’s anxiety while on vacation is to keep important parts of their day at the same time they occur at home. This should include meals, snacks, naps, and bedtime. This allows your child to experience some consistency in an unfamiliar space which will decrease their overall experience of stress. In addition, good sleep and nutrition are important factors in regulation and increasing your child’s ability to adapt to a new environment.

4) Flexibility and low expectations are your friend.

It is important to stay flexible and be prepared to change your plans at any time. At any point in time, your child may experience big emotions or sensations that result in difficult behavior and/or dysregulation. This can come from anxiety, overstimulation, or the triggering of a conscious or subconscious traumatic events. Parents need to be prepared to be responsive to the needs of their child, change plans, and potentially head home early, depending on the level of need of their child. It is important to keep your expectations low, which will help everyone be more prepared for all possible outcomes.