Brock and Courtney Hill are Coyote Hill foster parents from Boonville. They began pursuing foster care after struggling with infertility. Courtney’s family adopted her youngest brother out of foster care, so they were familiar with the emotional investment of fostering.
After making the decision to pursue foster care, they jumped in head first. Courtney owns a hair salon in Boonville and contacted Coyote Hill after a client recommended it.
“I’m the kind of person where if you tell me to do something, I’m getting it done,” Courtney said. Brock interjected, “I did everything because she asked me to.”
In foster parent training, Brock and Courtney kept wholeheartedly pursuing foster care. Two days after they closed on a new house, they welcomed a sibling set of three sisters into their home while they were still in training!
“We were at class, and we heard that there were three little girls who needed [a home],” Courtney said. “Going from zero to three [children] was kind of scary, but I love a challenge.”
Brock shared that they quickly adapted to having children in their home.
“It was somewhat overwhelming on the first day, but you’d be surprised how fast it became normal,” Brock said. “We adapted pretty quickly.”
Over the last several months, adapting has meant creating a consistent routine for their family.
For example, everyone in the Hill house knows that Friday night is movie night.
“They will always ask, ‘Is it Friday? Is it Friday yet?’” Brock said. “We make some popcorn, and I usually throw candy in there, so they’re searching through the popcorn to get the candy. Honestly, I don’t think they care much about the movie . . . I think they’re more about the candy and popcorn.”
They also enjoy going to the park, swimming, visiting the zoo, and spending time outside.
Brock and Courtney shared that they have seen each of their children have fewer difficult behaviors because of the consistency in their lives.
They describe their oldest daughter, who is six, as a princess.
“She loves wearing dresses—she’s always asking to wear a dress to school,” Brock said. “She’s a very happy child.”
Their middle child loves to be picked up and spun around.
“She’ll definitely make you smile; she loves to play,” Brock said.
Courtney added that their baby, who they met at six-weeks-old, is beginning to develop a personality. She’s giggling, bouncing, and trying to talk to everyone.
Brock and Courtney encourage anyone who is on the fence about fostering to give it a try!
“It isn’t guaranteed that you’ll have forever with the kids,” Courtney said. “But it’s so rewarding. Try it out; give respite a try. No one is going to be upset if it doesn’t work out.”
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