When you sit down with Genee, one thing becomes clear almost immediately: her perspective on foster care is rooted in something deeper than policy or process—it’s rooted in lived experience, hard-earned empathy, and an unwavering belief in the importance of family.
A longtime team member at Koinonia, Genee brings more than professional expertise to her role. She brings her whole story.
A Foundation Built on Real Life
“I’m a single mother of three,” Genee shares. “So I understand what it takes to keep your kids from falling through the cracks.”
Raising three children—each in different stages of life—meant learning how to be intentional in every aspect of parenting. From staying deeply involved in school and activities to navigating the unique needs of each child, Genee’s approach has always been hands-on and heart-first.
That intentionality paid off. Today, her children are thriving. But Genee is quick to point out: her journey wasn’t without struggle.
From Stability to Survival—and Back Again
At one point, Genee was thriving in her career as a mortgage banker. Then the 2008 housing crisis hit, and everything changed.
“I lost my job. I lost my house. I had to go through bankruptcy,” she recalls. “I was on food stamps and Medi-Cal, just trying to figure out how to take care of my kids.”
She moved her family across states for support, made sacrifices, and rebuilt from the ground up. That season of her life shaped how she sees the families she now works with—especially biological parents navigating crisis.
“I understand what it feels like to be down and out,” she says. “The difference is, I had support. A lot of the parents we work with don’t.”
A Different Lens on Biological Parents
In a system where biological parents are often misunderstood—or even judged—Genee offers a perspective that challenges those assumptions.
“They love their kids,” she says plainly. “They don’t want to lose them.”
For Genee, foster care is not about replacing parents—it’s about supporting families through one of the hardest seasons of their lives.
“These kids didn’t choose to come into care. And their parents didn’t choose to lose them,” she explains. “So you have to take your focus off what you want and put it on what’s best for the child.”
That mindset is something she emphasizes early and often with prospective foster parents.
“It’s Not About You”
Genee doesn’t sugarcoat the reality.
When families come in hoping to foster with the intention of adopting—especially those hoping for a baby—she gently but firmly reframes their expectations.
“I tell them all the time—it’s not about you,” she says. “You’re not guaranteed adoption. What you are guaranteed is the opportunity to make a difference.”
Instead of centering their own desires, she challenges families to think about the bigger picture: the child’s needs, their connection to their biological family, and the role they can play in supporting—not replacing—that bond.
“You’re part of a bigger story,” she explains. “Someone is losing so that you can step in. You have to respect that.”
The Power of Compassion
Genee’s empathy for biological parents isn’t theoretical—it’s deeply personal.
She understands how quickly life can shift. How one unexpected event can unravel stability. And how, without support, it’s easy to fall into cycles that are hard to break.
“If you’ve never been taught how to parent intentionally, how would you know?” she asks. “People are doing the best they can with what they’ve been given.”
That belief shapes how she coaches foster parents.
Rather than judgment, she encourages compassion.
Rather than control, she encourages partnership.
“I want foster parents to be a source of peace for biological parents,” she says. “To say, ‘Your child is safe. You can focus on getting back on your feet.’”
Building a Village
At the heart of Genee’s philosophy is a simple truth:
“It takes a village to raise a child.”
Foster parents, biological parents, social workers, therapists—each person plays a role in supporting not just the child, but the entire family system.
Foster care, in Genee’s eyes, is not about stepping in as a hero. It’s about stepping in as part of a team.
“You may only be part of that child’s story for a short time,” she says. “But what you pour into them—and into their family—can last forever.”
A Call to Rethink Foster Care
Genee’s message is both challenging and hopeful.
Foster care isn’t about fulfilling personal dreams. It’s about meeting real needs.
It’s about holding space for both joy and grief.
It’s about loving a child deeply—while also honoring where they come from.
And most of all, it’s about remembering that behind every placement is a family fighting, struggling, and hoping for a better future.
Kaitlin Earnest, Contributor