Koinonia News
News About Fostering & Adopting
Growing Up At Koinonia: Ian’s Story
For Ian, Koinonia Family Services has been more than just a place—it’s been home. Literally. Ian was just 10 days old when he arrived at Homes for Teens, House 3 in Rocklin, where his parents worked the swing shift. Surrounded by teenagers and the steady guidance of...
Love That Stays: How Zandro and Sean Helped One Little Boy Believe He Was Finally Home
When Zandro Palma talks about foster care, he doesn't start with the challenges. He starts with hope. For years, Zandro's partner, Sean, dreamed of becoming a dad. Eventually, Zandro was ready to take that step with him, and together they began exploring foster care...
“It’s Not About You”: Genee Johnson on Compassion, Perspective, and the Heart Behind Foster Care
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...
The Reward of Right Now — Why Fostering Teens Matters
Malia didn’t set out to become a foster parent to a teenager. In fact, her journey began in a completely different direction. She went to school to become a teacher, earned her credential, and imagined a future in the classroom. But when that path didn’t unfold the...
Keeping Them Together: Natalie’s Foster Care Journey
Natalie’s journey in foster care began in her late twenties, when she and her husband decided to open their home while raising their four-year-old daughter. Like many families, they initially saw fostering as a way to grow their family, but it quickly became something...
Youth Aging Out of Foster Care: Why Support Beyond 18 Matters
Turning 18 is often celebrated as a milestone—a moment of freedom, independence, and possibility. For many young people, it marks the beginning of adulthood with family close by: a place to return to, someone to call for advice, and a safety net when things don’t go...
Representation Matters: Why Feeling Seen Changes Outcomes
At Koinonia, we believe foster care is about more than placement—it’s about belonging, relationship, and an opportunity to heal. When youth enter foster care, they do not do so alone. Their families, the families who open their homes to care for them, and the...
Koinonia Achieves 3-Year CARF Accreditation
We are proud to share that Koinonia Family Services has once again been awarded a three-year accreditation from CARF International. This recognition, received at the end of October, reflects our sustained commitment to providing high-quality, trauma-informed services...
A Short Stay, A Lasting Impact: The Hoods’ Experience Fostering Siblings
When Mike and Alicia Hood first imagined growing their family, they didn’t know exactly what the journey would look like—but they never expected the path that would ultimately lead them to fostering. Today, after nearly ten years of marriage, one energetic...
Zandro & Sean’s Foster Care Journey: A Story of Patience, Purpose, and Love
When Zandro and Sean first began dreaming about growing their family, they knew two things for certain: they wanted to open their hearts to a child in need, and they wanted to give back in a meaningful, lasting way. As a same-sex couple, they understood the power of...