Foster family’s commitment provides healing and hope

By Sheila Phibbs

The Haldimand Press

CALEDONIA—“A community that nurtures the lives and dreams of children” is the vision of the Children’s Aid Society of Haldimand-Norfolk (CASHN). Foster care is integral to achieving that goal and, according to the CASHN website, there is always a need for foster homes. Lisa Harcourt and her husband Ryan made the decision to help meet that need three years ago and in that time 19 foster children have benefitted from their care.

With a home day care business and five children of her own ranging in age from 25 to 11, Lisa was already a busy mom. But her desire to be a foster parent came from personal experience and a need to give back. She grew up with a single mother and lived with a foster family as a teenager. She says, “I had an amazing foster family. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.”