Hello, my name is Leslie! I am a North Dakota Foster Parent. My husband and I have been foster parents for over 6 years. We first got licensed because of wanting to make a more tangible difference in the prevention of human trafficking by providing a home to the vulnerable youth in foster care, and we have continued to stay licensed because of our realization of the need for foster parents in North Dakota and our heart for restoration in our community.

We have had over 30 kids come through our home staying days or years. We have been part of successful reunifications, but honestly, we are only still licensed due to determination and creating our own support. Too many seasons are filled with survival and stepping up to provide a gap in services for the child in foster care and their family.

I am a dedicated solution seeker, and Haven Hills is finding and implementing solutions to improve foster care in North Dakota. I want to be part of the solution that is rallying communities of people, churches, and businesses to want to unite and create an environment that cares for people, supports them, nurtures them, and looks out for them, thus breaking cycles of trauma and isolation, so there can be more healthy families.

It takes an entire community of people to intentionally care for children in foster care. Will you join me in donating to Haven Hills? Together, we can be the community these children and families need! We want families to thrive, not just survive! 

The above image is a coffee date long after we reunified girls with their bio-grandma.  To this day, myself, my mother, and my mother-in-law have a relationship with the family, because while the children were in foster care, we provided tangible support that flourished. Every family deserves support and community members wanting to help them success.