Waylon Schmitt poses for a photo with his family on Jan. 3 at the Boone County Courthouse. From left are his adoptive grandfather, adoptive parents Christopher and Abrielle Schmitt and adoptive grandmother Sherry Bender. (Photo provided by Blueprints)

PARKERSBURG — A local child placement agency marked November as National Adoption Month by sharing the story of a foster care placement that led to a permanent home.

Blueprints is an agency with offices in Parkersburg and Fairmont that provides temporary, emergency foster care, treatment foster care and adoption services. They offer training, financial support and assistance to families to become certified for foster care and/or adoption. The agency is also licensed to complete adoptions to children it matches to its certified families.

West Virginia has more than 6,000 children in foster care, which is used to provide “a safe and supportive temporary placement for children who have been removed from their home due to abuse and neglect,” according to a release from Blueprints.

The initial goal is almost always to reunify the child and parents, but that is not an option in all circumstances. In that case, the goal for permanency shifts to adoption.

The average age of a child in foster care in West Virginia is 9 years old, Blueprints said in the release. But once a child reaches age 10, their chance of a successful adoption is just 20%.

“It is often challenging to find someone willing to take a chance on an older youth living in their home,” the release said. “When there are not enough permanency options for older youth, they risk aging out of foster care without achieving permanency or adoption.”

That can make transitioning into adulthood even more challenging.

“Many of these young adults lack the support systems other youths rely on, making it difficult to navigate adult services or obtain financial assistance without a trusted adult’s help,” the release said. “They may not have a family to spend holidays with or to call when they need advice.”

Children who age out of foster care without achieving permanency are also at increased risk of homelessness, unemployment and incarceration, the release said.

One of the Blueprints’ providers is Sherry Bender, who is licensed to provide foster care for children for up to 48 hours while a more permanent home is located.

“Grandma Sherry,” as she’s known, became an emergency foster care provider less than two years ago and has already had more than 70 children come through her home.

“I see them facing fear, sadness, joy and confusion all at once during their short stay with me,” said Bender, who retired after teaching for 35 years, in a written account of her experience provided by Blueprints. “Foster care brings me so much joy knowing how I can provide these children safety, fill their bellies and give them a cozy place to sleep.”

Bender said her family has supported her decision, including her daughter, Abrielle Schmitt. However her daughter also asked her how she could bear the children leaving without knowing what came next.

“In retirement I know I am unable to care full-time for children; however I can do what I do because while they are with Grandma Sherry, they know they are safe,” she said. “I am like a stop on their journey to refuel, refresh and recharge.”

One evening a boy named Waylon came to Bender’s home “with a story that no 6-year-old should have to carry,” she said. “His little smile hid his story well.”

Her daughter met Waylon at dinner and they formed an instant connection,Bender said.

“They laughed, joked and acted like they had known each other for years,” she said. “She was always wonderful with children, but this was different.”

The next day, Bender’s daughter called and asked who she would need to contact about foster care.

“The next few months would consist of her and her husband becoming certified foster parents, Waylon moving in and the journey to fostering to adopt would begin,” Bender said. “In nine months, I watched a stranger come into my home and become my grandson. I watched my daughter and her husband take on the role of parents for the first time seamlessly. I watched an adoption happen, and this entire journey felt meant to be every step of the way. Their family became official on Jan. 3, 2024, and Waylon is now a proud big brother to his baby sister, born in August.”

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Want to Know More?

More information about becoming a foster parent and other ways to support children in need of foster and adoptive homes is available by contacting the Blueprints office at 304-422-3159.