Wes and Kate Olufson became certified as Five Acres foster care-to-adoption parents and quickly welcomed Joey, Laura and Aiden into the Olufson family. Trying to place a sibling set of three children in the same home is an extremely challenging task for any social worker. The tragedy of severing the ties between brothers and sisters did not happen with this family, as it does to so many children in the foster care system.

Not only did the Olufsons commit to parenting a sibling set of three children, they committed to keeping the children’s relationships with their birth parents. Wes and Kate were aware of the attachment the children had with their birth parents, so they supported weekly visits. The Olufson family adoption was finalized a year later.

The Olufsons are a wonderful example for other foster-adoptive families. Wes and Kate have shared their experience with other potential Five Acres foster-adoptive parents during the prospective foster parents' training process with the hope that their courage will inspire other families to consider opening their home and hearts to sibling sets and recognizing the importance of keeping birth family ties for the sake of the children.