Ashley and Brett like to call themselves the “House of Misfits.” Every animal in their home has been adopted, so when it came time to grow their family, it felt natural to consider adoption, too.
“We’d been talking about it for years,” Ashley said. “At first, we thought about a baby, but the more we learned, the more we realized how many older kids are out there waiting. We decided we wanted to help a child who really needed us.”
The couple also had a personal connection to foster care. Brett’s grandmother had fostered for years, and Ashley’s boss and one of Brett’s coworkers had adopted through Catholic Charities ministry Good Shepherd Children and Family Services. That connection led them to Christina Robb, an adoption specialist, who walked them through the process, helped them get licensed and started the search.
By September, they found Jace — a bright, resilient 11-year-old. “We’d been looking at kids [from] all over,” Ashley said. “Jace was on my list, and when we finally connected, everything started to fall into place.”
Sadly, Jace had experienced severe trauma in his short life and needed a higher level of care. Christina thought the family could benefit from additional support during his transition to a new home and referred the family to the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis service line which has Treatment Foster Care (TFC) at its ministries Good Shepherd and Marygrove.
TFC homes provide children who face emotional or behavioral challenges a caring family setting and specialized support that is conducive to healthy growth and development.
“TFC was a blessing in disguise for our family. We honestly don’t know what we would have done without the support and care shown by our TFC Specialist Lisa Govero,” said Ashley. “Being able to have someone come to us, answer our million questions, and then give support where needed made this experience so much more special for us. An amazing program with truly amazing people!”
Getting Closer
Because Jace was living in another state, most of their early meetings were virtual. “The first time we saw his face on screen, he was quiet and shy,” Ashley recalled. “But with each call, we saw more of his personality. We just kept getting more excited.”
When they learned they’d been chosen, Ashley pushed for one more request: “I said, ‘He has to be here by Christmas!’ We share the same birthday in late December, and I wanted us to spend it together. He arrived a week before Christmas. It was the best gift we could have asked for.”
Building on a Strong Foundation
Jace’s previous foster mom, a transport driver for her state’s Department of Human Resources, had been a turning point for him. One night, with no placement available, she took Jace home. She became his one-on-one support for nearly a year, giving him stability and care he hadn’t known before.
“That foundation made all the difference,” Brett said. “He came to us already headed in the right direction emotionally and physically. We could [all] build from there.”
The Right Support
Even so, Jace still came into Ashley and Brett’s home facing significant trauma-related behavioral challenges. But with comprehensive support, he found healing. Jace’s success is a testament to the commitment, love, and trauma-informed care provided by his extraordinary foster family. Their understanding, patience and unconditional support allowed Jace to trust, thrive and grow.
“As for Ashley and Brett, throughout their time in the TFC program, they exemplified what it means to be appreciative, intentional and resilient caregivers. Their partnership with our program has been nothing short of inspiring, and we are so very honored to celebrate this incredible family as they begin a beautiful new chapter together,” said Lisa.
How Adoption and TFC Changed Them All
The trio quickly found shared passions — basketball, four-wheeling and camping. They’re an active family, from concerts to the Science Center to monster truck shows.
More importantly, they share an openness and honesty that Jace needed. “We’ve both had difficult pasts,” Ashley said. “We can relate to him in real ways, and we’ve taught him not to dwell on the past but to use it as fuel to become better.”
If there’s a turning point in their story, it’s not just the moment Jace joined their family, it’s the transformation they’ve all experienced since.
“For me, motherhood felt like it was what I was born to do,” Ashley said. “Our life was fine before, but it was quiet. Jace was our missing puzzle piece. Now, I feel complete.”
Brett agrees. “Before Jace, there was always something missing. I didn’t even realize how much light and joy we needed until he brought it into our lives.”
Jace has changed, too. He’s thriving in school, discovering new experiences, and building confidence. Many of those “firsts” have surprised Ashley and Brett — things they assumed an 11-year-old would have already done but hadn’t. “It made it fun for us,” Brett said. “We still get to share those milestones, and now he’s old enough to understand and remember them.” For additional information, please visit our TFC Page: Treatment Foster Care.
