The Gift Of Home

Behind every adoptive family is a special story. The Schultzes’ story is uniquely their own, yet it demonstrates the powerful way that adoption can change children’s lives for the better.

Charmaine and Nick Schultz of Homosassa met in 2007 and married in 2008, the second marriage for both. Their household included one son, Nicholas, from Nick’s prior marriage. Charmaine had previously conceived twins, but lost them in her second trimester. This experience greatly affected her, and after marrying Nick she decided she wanted to expand their new family. But when surgical complications prevented the Citrus County couple from having biological children, they began to consider adoption.

In 2012, the Schultzes were contacted by a friend in Arizona. The friend had adopted four children from a group of siblings but did not have room in the home for the fifth child, a baby who had tested positive for drugs received while in the womb. They became licensed foster parents to assist in receiving the child from out of state and then adopted baby Stewart 11 months later.

After adjusting to their new life as adoptive parents, Charmaine and Nick began fostering again in March 2014. They welcomed 14-month-old Charlie, who needed a home after his father’s arrest for violating probation, and adopted him the following year. The family also grew when they became guardians of 2-year-old Emily in September 2014.

The Schultzes were clearly passionate about providing a loving home for young foster and adoptive children, but they had no experience with teenagers and no interest in taking them. This all changed with Andrew.

Andrew arrived in February 2015, after Kids Central contacted Charmaine about its Just Take One program, which places teens with local families instead of group homes. Andrew had struggled with anger issues and poor grades, but he made a miraculous turnaround from his first day with the family. He was so happy when the Schultzes adopted him that he announced it in every one of his classes at school.

The couple is also fostering two babies, bringing the number of children in their home to seven. They say their household is chaotic but full of love.

Charmaine, a hairdresser, and Nick, a diesel mechanic, are everyday people doing remarkable things. The Schultzes are active in the Citrus County Foster Adoptive Association, and Charmaine even volunteers with Kids Central to share her experience with potential foster and adoptive parents. She is glad that she and Nick have the opportunity to positively affect the lives of children. You, too, can make a difference for life by showing a local child the way home. If you feel called to be an everyday hero like Charmaine and Nick, please call Paula Mealy of Kids Central, Inc. at (352) 387-3487 or visit KidsCentralFosterParents.org for more information.

Kids Central is the nonprofit lead agency charged with caring for abused, neglected and abandoned children in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties.