The Deborah Shankle Leonard Foster Parent of the Year celebrates a living legacy of compassion and care, honoring a current Wellroot foster parent who has embodied Wellroot’s mission, supported or recruited other foster families, welcomed sibling groups, collaborated with birth families during the reunification process, and demonstrated perseverance throughout their fostering journey.
Thanks to the generous memorial gift by the Deborah Shankle Leonard Family in 2015, Wellroot Family Services can recruit a new foster family each year for generations to come.
Anna Whitehouse, Wellroot’s 2024 Foster Parent of the Year, first saw the healing power of family during her high school years when her friend’s family welcomed two young foster children. Anna dreamed of becoming a mother and tucked into that dream, there was a small, persistent hope that she might foster too.
Many years later, while planning to start a family of her own, that hope began to feel more like a calling. Anna experienced five heartbreaking pregnancy losses. Despite the tests and doctor visits, she never received a diagnosis or explanation. But in her heart, she felt something deeper at work.
“It was like God was telling me, ‘The children you’re called to love are in foster care,'” she said. And since becoming an approved foster parent in December 2020, Anna has opened her home and heart to 27 children.
Anna’s approach to fostering is with an open hand and a full heart, understanding that her role is to love children–even if it’s only for a season.
“At times, kids have come to me sick,” shared Anna. “And all we’re [foster parents] to do is to love them in this chapter of their life. That child needed most to gain weight, so I was there to provide nutritious meals.”
Anna reflected on one of the sibling groups placed in her care, 17-month-old Erin and 6-month-old Rylie. When they first arrived, both were facing developmental delays due to neglect. Erin was barely crawling at a time when most toddlers are walking, and Rylie was significantly underweight and needed frequent visits to the pediatrician for weight checks.
In Anna’s care, everything began to change. Erin went from crawling to walking, then running and climbing with confidence. Rylie gained weight and is now growing well, both physically and developmentally. Their progress speaks to the steady love and care Anna provides every day.
With each placement, Anna becomes a fierce advocate for children and their birth families. She overcomes trauma-related developmental challenges, communication breakdowns, and celebrates bittersweet reunifications with birth parents.
“The stress of losing parental rights and privileges, and not having any control, can cause someone to backtrack on their goals. It helps to keep constant communication with birth parents,” said Anna.
Anna attends every Parent 2 Parent meeting (in-person and virtual), sends regular updates, and even provides parenting advice—offering a bridge of support to birth parents, not a barrier.
“I have the privilege of caring for someone’s most precious gift,” said Anna, reflecting on her empathy for mothers served at Wellroot—even as her path to motherhood took a different route. Her son, Grayson, was placed in her care in November 2021. Two years later, Anna adopted him with the support of Wellroot case manager Shelby. It was an unexpected but deeply meaningful moment in her journey.
Anna reminds us that biology alone does not define motherhood. Through every joyful milestone and every painful goodbye, she has chosen to love fully and foster fearlessly.
We believe every child deserves a loving, compassionate, and nurturing environment. We are a community ready to walk with children and their caregivers every step of the way. Because of Anna, 27 children have known love, safety, and healing.
If the challenges children face in foster care stir a call in your heart, become a foster parent with Wellroot and be the safe, loving presence every child deserves.
