By: Brooke Rouse

For some people, becoming a foster parent begins with a quiet nudge, a feeling that grows over time and eventually becomes impossible to ignore. For Danielle and Tony Seymore, that call was rooted in a lifelong desire to help children who need stability, safety, and someone willing to stand in the gap during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Danielle describes a turning point in her life when she began seriously considering foster care. She had previously done mission work and felt a deep sense of loss after a concussion prevented her from continuing that work abroad. “I was missing the mission field,” she shared. That loss led her to a powerful realization: Why not here? Why not the kids in our own community? That question became the foundation of a foster care journey that is now celebrating its tenth year.

Learning Through the First Placement

Within just three days of becoming licensed with Beech Acres Parenting Center (BAPC), The Seymore family received their first placement, two very young children, just two years old and six months old. The children remained with them for two years, and that first experience profoundly shaped how Danielle and Tony understand parenting.

“You can’t parent children who’ve experienced trauma the same way you parent biological children or the way you were raised,” Danielle explained. The behaviors the couple encountered were unexpected and often challenging, but they were also an opportunity for growth, not just for the children, but for the adults caring for them.

Danielle and Tony learned to look beyond behavior and focus on what was underneath it. Parenting shifted from traditional time-outs to “time-ins,” co-regulation, and connection. Rather than pushing children away to manage emotions alone, they learned to stay present and help them regulate relationships.

A Decade of Impact

Over the past ten years, the Seymore family has[RB1]  fostered ten children and regularly provides respite care. Many of the children placed with them have had complex mental health needs, requiring patience, flexibility, and a trauma-informed approach to care.

Their household includes one biological child, who was seven years old when they began fostering other children. From the start, Danielle and Tony were intentional about treating foster children as their own children and fully integrating[RB2]  them into the family. “There was never separation,” Tony said. “We approached it as one family unit.”

Two of the children they fostered were ultimately adopted by Danielle and Tony while others reunified with biological family members or transitioned to foster-adopt homes. In every situation, the focus remained on what was best for the child, working together, so the child never felt divided or caught in the middle.

Support That Makes the Difference

Danielle and Tony credit Beech Acres Parenting Center with a critical source of support throughout their journey. “The social workers have been amazing, always a phone call away,” she said. Through BAPC, the family has accessed valuable trainings, resources, and relationships with other foster parents at different stages in their journey.

As Danielle and Tony gained experience, Beech Acres also encouraged them to have a stronger voice in decision-making related to children’s treatment and care. They really listen,” Tony noted. “That support has meant everything.” Notably, all their foster placements have come through Beech Acres.

Lessons from the Heart

Foster care has taught the family powerful lessons about love, resilience, and capacity. Early on, Danielle struggled with the fear of saying goodbye, but over time she learned that it is possible to love children who aren’t your own, even when their time with you is temporary.

She’s seen how the heart can stretch, break, heal, and grow again. “You survive,” Danielle shared. “And you know that the love, safety, and stability you provided was exactly what that child needed in that moment.”  She firmly believes that what is broken in unhealthy relationships can be healed through safe, secure attachments, and that caring for yourself along the way matters, too.

Connection is at the center of their approach to fostering. They use humor, playfulness, curiosity, and being present to help children feel safe and valued. By learning each child’s likes and listening to their voice, both Danielle and Tony build trust in one interaction at a time.