Good Morning America

How 'Medical' Foster Mom Supports Children in Her Care

The video profiles Kadijah Stewart, a Florida resident who turned her lifelong dream of motherhood into a mission to care for medically fragile children in foster care. With more than 300,000 children in the U.S. foster system and a nationwide shortage of specialized foster homes, Stewart’s story highlights a critical gap in the child welfare network. Stewart has opened her home to 30 children with conditions ranging from seizure disorders to cerebral palsy, adopting four of them permanently. She emphasizes that anyone with compassion can become a medical foster parent, as state agencies provide the necessary training and support. The shortage of qualified caregivers makes each additional home a lifeline for children who need consistent, specialized care. Irene Rickus of the Children’s Home Network underscores that a medical background isn’t required, noting that the best foster parents are those with “a heart” and a willingness to learn. Stewart shares her motivation: seeing a smile on a child’s face despite medical challenges fuels her perseverance. She urges viewers to take the first step, reassuring that licensing agencies will guide newcomers through the process. The narrative underscores the broader implications for child welfare policy: expanding recruitment and simplifying training could dramatically increase permanent placements for medically complex youth. By spotlighting a successful model, the video aims to inspire more families to fill the critical gap, ultimately improving outcomes for a vulnerable population.