My guest in this episode is Comfort Keidel, a foster parent and foster care recruiter with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. We talk about her reasons for becoming a foster parent, the process and challenges of becoming a foster parent, and the needs for children in foster care.

Comfort Kiedel began her life in Kerrville, Texas. After receiving a BA in Radio/Television/Film, a yearning for something more took her as far as New York City with the intention of having a career in the film industry. Being exposed to a large homeless population shocked her to her core, and something in her soul changed after working as a temp at the Food Bank for New York City. After that brief stint in New York, she moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma to be near family as she figured out what direction to take next. Although she only intended to live in Ardmore briefly, she found surprising opportunities. One of those was becoming a teacher, something she had never thought was in her life plan.

During this time, she began on her path toward fostering.  Initially rejected as a foster parent due to being a member of the LGBT community, Comfort persevered, and she has been fostering since 2010. She and her partner also have two adopted children, and Comfort currently works for the Department of Human Services in foster care recruitment. It is easy to see through her personal and professional life that fostering is a true passion for Comfort.

If you’re considering becoming a foster parent, please visit www.okfosters.org.

To learn more about Christmas gifts for children in foster care, please go to www.okdhs.org/library/news/mk/Pages/HolidayHope.aspx.

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