New Reality Series Aims to Recruit Foster Families

Children’s Home Society of North Carolina Launches Groundbreaking Online Series

Today Children’s Home Society of North Carolina is proud to launch the first of its kind online reality series following a family through the foster care licensing process.

“Real Families, Real Impact” is an online series designed to give interested families a realistic view of the foster care licensing process and how even one family or one individual can make a difference that lasts a lifetime. Real Families, Real Impact – Meredith & Sione can now be found on CHS’s YouTube (youtube.com@CHSNC) and social media pages. With new episodes released each Tuesday, the four-episode series will release weekly through the month of July 2025.

One Foster Family’s Journey

Meredith and Sione are your average North Carolina family. They are juggling two careers while raising a rambunctious 9-year-old daughter with a host of extracurricular activities and staying connected with their extended families. The couple decided they were ready to grow their family through foster care, partly influenced by Sione’s close knit family upbringing on the island of Tonga. They began the process in late December and quickly partnered with CHS to film their journey through the foster care licensing process in hopes of encouraging more families to consider making an impact on children in this care.

Why This Series Matters

“Foster parents are the quiet heroes in our communities,” said Shannon Enoch, Executive Director of Programs at CHS. “They open their hearts and homes during a child’s most vulnerable moments, offering not just shelter, but stability, love, and the place to heal. At CHS, we walk alongside our foster families, providing training, resources, and 24/7 support. We truly stand behind our mission that every child deserves a safe, permanent, and loving family, and we help families provide just that. Because foster care is so much more than a service; it’s a relationship. We are so grateful to this family for opening their doors to share their journey.”

“Meredith and Sione have been incredible partners on this journey with us,” said Becky Alley, Chief Marketing Officer for CHS. “They welcomed us with open arms, sharing their joys, fears, hopes, and frustrations as they navigated the licensing process. By pulling back the curtain on one family's foster care journey, we hope to encourage more individuals and families to see how becoming a foster parent can truly make a difference in the life of a child. We are so thankful for Meredith’s and Sione’s transparency, and we are honored to share their experience.”

How to Watch

Real Families, Real Impact – Meredith & Sione will debut on CHS’s YouTube (youtube.com@CHSNC) and social media pages July 8, 2025. With new episodes released each Tuesday, the four-episode series will air throughout the month.

The Foster Care Crisis

With 11,000 children in foster care and only 5,600 licensed foster homes available, North Carolina continues to face a dire shortage of homes for children. This represents a 20 percent decline in licensed foster homes available in the last five years in North Carolina and across the country. This is resulting in children sleeping in DSS offices, emergency rooms, and other facilities that are not designed to provide safe, loving care for children.

Foster families offer a safe, nurturing environment where healing can begin. They meet each child’s basic and emotional needs, support their education and well-being, and help them stay connected to their birth families whenever possible. Foster parents also guide children through stress and transitions, preparing them for reunification or adoption.

Foster Parent Requirements

Becoming a foster parent is less about your background and more about your ability to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home. You don’t need to be married, own a home, or fit into a specific mold — what matters most is your commitment to caring for children. Foster parents must be at least 21 years old, legal U.S. residents who have lived in North Carolina for at least six months, and complete background checks, home assessments, and required training. They should also have reliable transportation, adequate space in the home, and sufficient income to support their current family. Whether you choose to foster, donate, or simply help spread the word, you can help change a child’s life. To learn more about foster care and how you can help, visit www.chsnc.org/foster.

The CHS Foster Care Process

Icon showing step one to become a foster parent in NC:gathering information about CHS support programs, licensing requirements, caregiver expectations, foster parent application steps, and how to begin the journey of fostering children through trauma-informed care and state-approved training.

Get Started

Fill out the inquiry form, attend an info session, and/or speak to a specialist to learn more about the foster care process.

Get Started

Icon of two people talking during a foster care home visit, part of the background check and interview phase to become a foster parent in NC with CHS. This step includes family assessments, licensing approval, and helps prepare foster families for temporary or long-term placements.

Application & Interviews

Complete an application, pay for a background check, and interview with a specialist, who will make sure you meet the requirements to become a foster parent.

Person completing CHS foster parent training online, fulfilling state-required education and paperwork to become a foster parent in NC, including trauma-aware instruction, CPR certification, and legal documentation for foster care approval and youth placement eligibility.

Training & Paperwork

Upon application approval, complete the required training program and finish necessary paperwork.

Training

Certified document icon symbolizing completion of CHS foster care licensing, youth placement approval, background clearance, and all requirements needed to become a foster parent in NC and provide temporary or permanent homes for children in foster care.

License & Placement

Receive approval from the state to become a licensed foster home. Then, a specialist will work with you to place a child in your home.