Finding Their Forever Family: How Tiandra and Jorge's "Foster Fail" Opened Their Hearts— and Home—to More Children in Need.
Tiandra always dreamed of becoming a parent: "I just felt it in my bones that I wanted to be a mom." After years of hoping and waiting, foster care helped her dream come true.
She and her husband, Jorge, have been together for over a decade. Their lives were forever changed once they embarked on their fostering journey in 2018.
The couple discovered Oakland Family Services through a small-world personal connection. Upon reaching out to inquire about foster care, they received a call within hours and learned about the first steps.
Through the process of becoming licensed foster parents, Tiandra and Jorge underwent background checks, submitted documentation, and requested letters of recommendation to show they could provide a safe, loving environment. Their home was inspected, and they were interviewed about their intentions.
"The licensing process was very thorough and extensive," Tiandra shared. "From beginning to end, Oakland Family Services was wonderful. The staff sort of held our hands the whole way through, which we needed. They also shared a lot of valuable information and offered in-depth training sessions."
Everything was finalized during the height of the pandemic in 2020. The couple quickly started getting numerous calls about children who needed homes. However, with the current state of the world and all the unknowns, Tiandra and Jorge were a little panicked. They carefully considered two placements and ultimately declined. According to Tiandra, Oakland Family Services was very understanding.
The third call they received was about 13-year-old Tori. The recruiter described Tori as a "unicorn" of the foster care system due to her resilience and character. Tiandra and Jorge did not initially envision fostering a teenager. However, they decided to give this placement a try. "I mean, after all, she's a unicorn, right?" said Tiandra.
Tori was quiet, but sweet and funny with a strong conviction. Tiandra remembers forming an instant bond: "She quickly became a part of our family. I knew I wanted her to be my child within days."
About a year later, Tori expressed similar feelings. Tiandra explained, "One evening we were driving to go to dinner, and out of nowhere, Tori asked us to adopt her." Tiandra and Jorge felt incredibly touched by her request.
Tori's adoption was finalized in 2021, officially making her a permanent part of Tiandra and Jorge's family. Today, they share a regular parent/teenager relationship. "I'm her mom. Jorge is her dad," said Tiandra. "We laugh and joke. I harass her about her homework. She recently got her driver's license, so now she hogs my car. To me, it is absolutely a 100% typical family dynamic. She's our child and we don't think of it in any other terms. It's hard for us to even remember our lives before she joined us."
Tiandra and Jorge weren't sure if they would continue fostering after adopting Tori, but their hearts and their home remained open. Once again, they began receiving calls from recruiters daily. "It goes to show how desperate the need is for foster parents," Tiandra expressed.
Since Tori's adoption, the family has welcomed six children through Oakland Family Services. They are currently fostering another teenage girl who has been with them for about a year, and she and Tori share a close sisterly bond.
"My dream of being a parent has come true, thanks to Oakland Family Services," Tiandra shared. "Our family has expanded and contracted over the years, but it always stays a family at its core, and I can't imagine it any other way. Had we not found Oakland Family Services, our lives would be a lot less colorful."
There are so many kids out there who need someone to take a chance on them. You might be exactly what a child needs, and they might be exactly what you need, too.
Learn more about foster care and adoption through Oakland Family Services.