Foster Care Angels

Written by Betsy O'Leary | Photos by Riyen Helg

Curious about the ins and outs of the Louisiana foster care system? Ask local foster parents Gary Sandifer, Jr., and his wife, Melanie. The couple have fostered an astonishing 21 children in the five-and-a-half years since they opened their home to babies and toddlers in need.

Already the biological parents of a 19-year-old daughter and a set of twins, 17, the Sandifers adopted a daughter, now five, who was a former foster child. They’re also in the process of adopting another 18-month-old girl they have been fostering since birth. Gary is quick to say that their biological kids, who were just 13 and 11 when the family began their foster odyssey, have always had veto power should fostering no longer work for them.

Filling a Need in Southeast Louisiana

The Sandifer’s foster children out of the Covington Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) office, which covers the five parishes of Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, St. Helena, Livingston, and Washington. The Covington office holds the distinction of carrying the highest number of cases in the state. Sadly, most of the cases are related to parental drug abuse, including in utero exposure to methamphetamine. Babies born addicted spend time in the NICU and are sent directly into the foster care system.

Advocates for the Voiceless

The Sandifers go above and beyond to meet the needs of the children they have taken into their care. Their efforts earned them the regional DCFS “Foster Family of the Year” award, as well as the “Angels in Adoption” award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). The latter is given to those who champion causes for foster children, provide services, and facilitate changes in the system, e.g., extending benefits to age 21 for foster kids enrolled in school.

They have received support on Capitol Hill from Senator Cassidy and Congresswoman Letlow. Locally, Louisiana Senator Beth Mizell has intervened on their behalf in specific cases.

Melanie and Gary are passionate about bringing awareness to how long children remain in the system, which is often far longer than the federally mandated 15 months in which the children should achieve permanency of custody. They use every opportunity to talk with local lawmakers, hoping that resolutions can be found with their support. Unfortunately, In the 21 cases of the kids they fostered, only two wound up successfully reunifying with their biological parents, leaving the rest to endure the drawn-out saga of the foster care system.

How You Can Help

Not everyone is cut out to be foster parents, but there are other ways to help those who are. Foster care families have physical needs that come up quickly and without warning. At those times, they reach out to local groups for help. Community support would greatly benefit three local charities dedicated to assisting foster families. All of them have stepped up to help the Sandifer’s foster children whenever needed. The resources these charities offer are vital, and they depend on community support to continue to serve. Individuals can also help by showing up to support foster families for court, sending meals on court dates, and offering babysitting when necessary.

Interested in fostering?

The process begins online at the DCFS website, where you can find an application and information on the program. DCFS has requirements, including an extensive background check and 36 classroom hours.

Above all, Gary and Melanie thank God and their community for their help in fostering needy children. Their journey has made a profound impact on the lives of the children and families that have been in their care. Moving forward, the family is planning to transition to emergency and respite placements as they navigate the change in family dynamics with the adoption of the girls.

Moving Mountain Ministries:

Ellen Burford • 985-969-0855 • movingmountainsla.com

Family Village:

Shayna Landry • 225-283-6297 • tfvwalker.org

James Samaritan:

Kim Bigler • 985-888-9750 • jamessamaritan.org