KCSL Adoption Booklet

12 Decades of Adoption
inding safe and loving homes for
children in need has always been an
important part of what we do at the
Kansas Children’s Service League. The
belief that kids grow best in family homes has
stood the test of time and is now considered
best practice.
While the belief that
families are best for kids
has always been paramount,
our services have
changed over the years
to adjust to the culture
and demands of our
society. The receiving
homes of the early 1900s
are now resource families
or foster care homes. In
the 1940s, 50s and 60s,
the League specialized
in infant adoption and
finalized more than 200
adoptions in 1968. In
2012, we received over
2,000 inquiries from
people interested in
adopting one of the 396
foster children posted on
our website www.adoptkskids.org.
Of those
2,000 we were able to
match 112 with an adoptive
home.
Through the years we’ve also added new
thought to our forefathers’ belief. We know
that properly preparing foster and adoptive
parents for their role is important to their success,
and in turn that of the children in their
care. Family recruiters of yesteryear engaged
community leaders, the press and local churches
in search of good families
willing to open their homes
to children. Once found,
children were quickly
placed with limited preparation.
Today, while the
tactics to find families are
very similar, the process to
bring a child into a home is
much more rigorous. That
in part, reflects a change in
times, but more importantly
it recognizes the significance
of the decision to foster
or adopt a child. Best
illustrating our commitment
to readying families is the
Kansas adoption dissolution
rate of one percent,
far below other states who
average 10 to 15 percent.
That means that once our
kids are adopted, they stay
with their forever family.
ccording to our 1894 Annual
Report, 26 children were
“surrendered” in 1893 to Rev. O.S.
Morrow, who founded the Kansas
Children’s Home Society (KCHS) later
that same year.
In 1906, the Christian Service League
was founded and would later merge
with KCHS, so as to avoid duplication.
Combined they became the Kansas
Children’s Home and Service League in
1926.
Since that day in 1893, we have worked
tirelessly to find forever families for
children.
2

A Radical Belief
n 1898, KCHS published the first
Home Finder Monthly Journal in an
effort to find safe homes for children.
At this time, it was a radical belief that
children grew best in family homes
and not in orphanages. Below is the
original message that was sent with the
Journal to explain its’ purpose:
The Home Finder will reach many
homes this month for the first time. We
offer no apology for sending the little
paper to those who have not asked
for it. We simply take this method of
making some of the good people of the
state acquainted with one of the most
efficient, economical and Christ like
charities of the country. We hope after
you read this paper you will be enough
interested in the cause which it advocates
to send us your name and 25
cents and have the Home Finder visit
your home once a month for a year.
The field which our little paper occupies
has never been entered before. The
facts which it publishes and position taken
will be an astonishment to many, and
yet we will put nothing in print which we
can not fully substantiate. The childless
home of the homeless child is such a
new thought and so radically different
from anything that has ever before been
attempted that many will say, “you can
never solve the homeless child problem
in this way.” It is just such people
that we are anxious to have read the
Home Finder. We know to a certainty
that there are more excellent Christian
families in Kansas wanting a child than
there are homeless children with which
the supply and demand. We want you
to be apprized of this fact, and to help
us put this supply and demand together.
For 12 decades, KCSL has been finding safe and
loving homes for children. These are their adoption
stories as told by moms, dads and children.
The1890s
Look for popular
children’s toys from every
decade throughout this book.
3

John & Evangeline Natteford
The League’s first adoptees - told by Reverend Hosford, founder of the Christian Service League
bandoned in a snow-covered tent, John
and Evangeline, a brother and sister
aged 10 and 13, were found on the Oklahoma
prairie in 1906. Local officials contacted me,
George Lewis Hosford. I was lecturing in the
area and was accustomed to helping unwanted
children rejected by their families as part of my
church ministry.
“I hope to contribute as much as the
League has expended for me. But the
debt of gratitude I owe can never be
fully paid.”
-John Natteford
The siblings’ condition was grave. Their mother
was dead, and their father had discarded them.
A blizzard had swept the plains. Snow had
blown into their tent. Their bed, such as it was,
was wet with snow. They had no fuel. Their
scant provisions were exhausted. I became
their personal ward and returned to my home
in Wichita. At this point, I realized it was time to
organize a society. With the help of my
assistant May Shelley, I started the Christian
Service League with my lecture series earnings
of $49.
As with all the children I helped, I
tended to their immediate needs for
food and clothing before finding the
siblings a permanent home. I found
them a loving home, and as a result
of the support and nurturing that
they received, John and Evangeline
became highly respected young
people, married and well settled
in life. Evangeline became a public
school teacher, then a farmer’s
wife and a proud mother of a little
daughter. John worked his own
way through Business College. He held good
positions, married and lived nicely in New York
City. As an adult, John made a contribution to
the Christian Service League and said, “I hope
to contribute as much as the League has expended
for me. But the debt of gratitude I owe
can never be fully paid.”
The1900s
John and Evangeline Natteford, before and after they
were taken in by Pastor Hosford and the Christian
Service League.
4

A Father’s Report
A father’s response to the Kansas Children’s Home Society
about his daughter
Historical Facts
Mr. D.F. Shirk, Topeka, Kansas.
Dear Sir:
eplying to your inquiry of October 22, I am glad to say that the little baby girl we
were privileged to get from your Society is now quite a young lady, having good
health, second year high school, teaches a class of little girls in the Junior Department
of the Methodist Sunday School, is department pianist, cooks very creditably, and sews,
embroiders, and is a natural artist. While I am writing she is at the piano using the Methodist
Hymnal. She is a natural leader among her age, in fact has always been so. Speaks
fluently in Epworth League addresses, and in fact a child who bears bundles of sunshine
to others. I only wish I could give her still greater possibilities. She is anticipating entering
the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 1920. Is now carrying the University
course of music, specializing with piano.
We are living on an orange grove in Anaheim, with reasonably comfortable conditions
and very delightful country, in fact as to my opinion the one great and beautiful spot,
“Southern California.” Moved here from Manchester, Kansas September 1907, as yet
have no inclinations toward returning.
This mansion at 10th and Harrison in Topeka was purchased by
the Kansas Children’s Home Society in 1921. Children staying
temporarily in this “receiving home” would stroll across the street
to meet the Governor, who would present them with a shiny new
dime and wish them a bright future.
Children at the
“receiving home”
would hang their red
stockings and generous
members of the
community would fill
them for Christmas.
This was the very
beginning of KCSL’s
Red Stocking Breakfast
tradition.
Thanking you for the opportunity of report, I am, Very respectfully, S.R.C.
The1910s
Children in the
“receiving home”
participated in a “Toy
Orchestra,” which
was organized by the
Assistant Matron of
the home.
5

Historical Facts
James Sloan
Chosen in early1928
Jim today, as a valued
Trustee of the KCSL
Foundation.
In 1920, the Christian Service League built a
brick building at 1825 W. Maple in Wichita.
This office housed seven departments: psychopathic
clinic, community service, children’s
aid, health clinic, home finding, care-taking
and publishing.
An information pamphlet stated, “The Christian
Service League is not sectarian. Is not
confined to any state. Does not dole out alms.
Just helps others to help themselves, out of
their troubles, into an independent and right
way of living.”
In 2011, Rebecca Turner,
author of the book, and
KCSL 1963 adoptee,
presented new adoptive
families this story to help
them talk to their children
about their adoption
journey. Her story has
helped many adoptive
families talk about their
most personal feelings on
adoption.
was adopted in the early part of 1928 as
an infant to loving parents. When I was
seven years old, my dad sat me down and
told me I was adopted. I don’t remember
much else about this conversation except that
I asked my father what my name was before
I became James. It was “Benjamin.” I had a
vision of cribs in a room, and my parents came
along and picked me special for their family.
I was very excited about this. I bragged
to the neighborhood about how I was special
because I was adopted. I had an attitude that
others were “less than” because they weren’t
adopted. The general attitude at that time
towards adoption was that it was a secret that
you weren’t ashamed of, but you didn’t really
share with everyone. After I shared my news,
a mother in my neighborhood called my father
for advice on how to tell her daughter that she
was also adopted.
Before my adoption, my parents had two
biological children
that passed away
during infancy. That
led them to choose
KCSL to adopt. My mother died when I was
seven years old. After that, I grew up with my
Dad, step-mother and two sisters. I never had
any desire to search for my biological relatives
because I knew who my parents were--the
mom and dad who raised me.
Besides being adopted through KCSL, I also
have some other connections to the agency.
My uncle, Edward Sloan, was a Board member
in the 1930s, and eventually I followed in
his footsteps and became a supporter of KCSL
by joining the Board of Directors. I also continue
to serve as a KCSL Foundation Trustee.
Who knows what I would have been without
adoption. If you end up with a loving and caring
family, what better way to be raised.
The1920s
6

Ray Rathert
The musical family he never knew
was born October 22, 1930 in Kansas City,
Missouri at The Willows. Given up at birth
for adoption, I was handed to someone in
Topeka to be “maintained” until they found a
home for me. My biological father was from
the Philippines and was killed in an auto
accident while my biological mother was pregnant
with me. My mother and father were not
married to each other at the time of my birth,
and my mother had no means of support so
she placed me for adoption.
With my biological father being Filipino and
myself being half Filipino, it was hard to find
a home placement. The workers tried to find
someone of my race but couldn’t find a Filipino
family. I was placed in the Kansas Children’s
Home and Service League in Topeka. On July
24, 1931, Louis and Ester Rathert of Chapman,
Kansas adopted me. I was their first and only
child. I grew up
in Chapman and
graduated high
school in 1948
from Chapman
High School.
I inherited musical genes from my biological
father, who had a string quartet and traveled
around the Midwest. I became a drummer
in the high school band in seventh grade and
attended the University of Kansas in 1948 as a
Music Education major. To avoid the draft during
the Korean War, I joined the Air Force in
1951. After serving four years as a musician in
a military band, I returned to KU in 1955 and
obtained a Business degree. I got a job with
the Kansas Insurance Commissioner’s Office
where I worked until retirement in 1994.
When I was 65 years old, I decided it was
time to find out about my birth family. My
adoptive mother always said that she would
like me to find my birth mother. At this point,
both of my adopted parents were deceased.
I obtained my adoption file from KCSL and
learned that my biological mother, Ruth Tracewell
(pictured left, late 1920s), was raised in
Lincoln, Kansas. After several attempts to locate
Ruth, I tracked down my cousin in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. I then discovered that Ruth was
living in a nursing home in Topeka and that I
had a biological brother and three sisters.
My wife and I wrote a letter to my brother, who
had power of attorney over Ruth. We spent a
week drafting the letter to make sure it was right.
We mailed it on a Friday but couldn’t wait, so I
called him on Saturday morning, about 30 minutes
before the letter arrived. My brother did
not know that I existed, and he came to Topeka
the following Monday. I told him I wanted to
get medical information and see my mother.
My brother met me at the nursing home and
introduced me to Ruth as a “friend.” Soon after,
I met my sisters. All my biological siblings were
very supportive, and they have become my
friends. I see them a few times every year. My
siblings and I found that we had several connections
and knew some of the same people. Even
the next generation made a connection. My
biological sister’s son and my son played together
in the KU Band!
It has been a very happy relationship. They ask
me why I waited so long to find them. I told
them that I thought the world of my parents and
didn’t want to hurt them. It’s been a great and
rewarding experience to reunite with my biological
family.
Ray (left) pictured with
his biological sisters
and brother (August
2012).
The1930s
7

Caraleta Huslig
Take a chance on me
y name is Caraleta Pearl Lonnon-
Huslig. At birth, my name was Georgia
Carol Unger. I was adopted at the age of nine
months. My adoptive family consisted of my
mother, dad and a brother who was five years
older and also adopted, but not related to me
by birth. My parents were each 43 years old
when they adopted me. My parents lived on a
farm in Barton County, raised grain crops and
had cattle, hogs, chickens and lots of cats and
a couple of dogs. It was 1942 and I can recall
rationing of some goods, such as sugar and
gasoline. My parents were thrifty, but not to the
extreme. They had gone through the depression
and were keenly aware of what can happen
economically. That being said, they were as
generous as they could be to my brother and
me.
Mother told me when they got to the Children’s
Home in Wichita, they noticed that I was older
than the other babies. I was nine months old
and they decided to “take a chance on me.”
My mother had a great sense of humor. In all
seriousness, she told me that on the way back
to Barton County, she and my dad noticed
that I had already formed several habits. I had
learned how to soothe myself. This self-soothing
was most likely because of my living conditions
at that time. I would bang my head against the
bed, rock back and forth at night and suck my
thumb. Mother had her work cut out. She finally
got me to stop all but rocking myself to sleep.
That took many years for me to conquer.
Mother made sure that I knew I was adopted
and was a chosen child for our family. She did
this from a very early age. I never felt as though
I didn’t belong. In fact, I thought I was a pretty
“I never felt as though I didn’t belong. In
fact, I thought I was a pretty big deal thanks
to her.”
- Caraleta Huslig
big deal thanks to her. She instilled in me the
fact that I could achieve anything this world has
to offer as long as I worked hard at school. To
be honest, I have never considered any
obstacles too big to overcome because of her
love and faith in me.
She also told me that if I ever wanted to search
for my birth mother and father, that she would
help me. I thought about it in my younger years,
just to see who I looked like or if I had any
siblings. That feeling has abated over the years,
but I’m so grateful that my birth mother didn’t
abort me. I pray that my birth mother is aware
of how grateful I am for the life she allowed me
to live. I was given a chance to live, and had a
good life. I married a wonderful man 50 years
ago. We were blessed with three children and
doubly blessed with 11 grandchildren.
I am so blessed to have been adopted by such
good people, and not very many days go by
that I don’t think about them. They have been
gone since 1985.
The1940s
8

Memorable Quotes
“We’d recommend adoption to anyone as it
is very rewarding. We so enjoy her and our
grandchildren.” - Mitchie and Cheryl, adopted
a girl in 1970
“When we stop to think about it, we are
amazed that we were given two gifted and
wonderful children, something that never would
have happened if my sister had not given us
that pamphlet.” - Alvin and Carolyn, adopted a
boy and a girl in the 1960s
“We were so happy to take our three year old
daughter, Carol, home in 1953. After neglect
she was finally able to feel more secure and
developed into a happy lifestyle.” - Unknown,
adopted a girl in 1953
“I, for one, will always be a driving force in my
sincere belief that adoption is a good thing and
an answer for those who are really wanting to
raise a family! I thank God every day for my
biological mother making probably one of the
most difficult decisions in her life by giving me
up for adoption.” - Kat, adopted in 1960
“My grandmother was from a Swedish family
and insisted that [our daughter] was her little
Swede too, because she was so blond with
blue eyes.” - Thomas, adopted a girl in 1972
“I was born to a drugaddicted,
teen mom in the
early 70s...I am very grateful
to the mother I never
knew and to KCSL. Life on
‘the other side’ has been
truly awesome.” - Becky,
adopted in 1972
“When we arrived at KCSL we were taken to
a room and found a little baby boy full of life,
crying, with a head of hair about one inch long
standing straight up, but he was so beautiful,
wonderful, gorgeous and sweet that his mother
and dad fell in love with him immediately.”
- Tommie and Vera, adopted a boy in 1965
“Our son was five weeks old the day we went
to Topeka to pick him up. He was so precious.
I give thanks to God for the mother that birthed
him and had the courage to give him up.”
- Mary, adopted a boy in 1962.
“The one and only thing in life I ever wanted
was to be a mother, and you gave me that
opportunity.” - Mimi, adopted two children in
1961 and 1962
Bobbie Padgett, Mrs.
Kansas adopted a
boy in 2010. She is
a strong advocate for
adoption in the state
of Kansas.
“We were so pleased with how smoothly and
quickly everything went. We will always have
a special place in our hearts for the staff that
saw us through those anxious days while we
awaited the arrival of our son.”
- Bobbie Padgett, adopted a boy in 2010
“...they (KCSL) were instrumental in helping me
locate my biological mother so I could let her
know she made the right decision, that I had
wonderful parents, a blessed life, and that I was
thankful for her and the decision she made.”
- Carol, adopted in 1957
“To improve our chances, we opened ourselves
to the possibility of getting a child, not just an
infant. We were willing to accept a child with
disabilities. A mere six months later, we got
a call about a five month old girl in Wichita!”
-Karen, adopted a child in 1983
9

Ben & Ruby D.
Tears of joy
fter trying for six years to have a baby,
Ben and I decided to adopt. We contacted
KCSL in 1953 about adopting a baby. Then
in 1955 our application was approved and we
began home studies. In 1956, we received a
call to come to KCSL in Wichita for an interview!
After learning all the important information
we needed about our baby’s background
and making sure we still wanted to adopt,
they said “would you like to go see your baby
now?” We were stunned and speechless! She
led us to a crib in a nursery. We looked in the
crib at the most beautiful baby boy born March
6, 1956. He
had gorgeous,
big, light blue
eyes and a perfect
little face.
He wrapped
his tiny little
finger around
our hearts immediately.
The
lady gave me
“We want to thank KCSL for choosing
us for his parents.”
-Ruby D.
a bottle and said “you may pick him up and
feed him.” We had to leave him then and go
shopping for all the baby necessities, as we left
home empty handed going for an interview.
What an interview! We chose a name and
spent the night in Wichita. Too excited to sleep,
we returned the next day for our son Craig,
to bring him home for the first time. The foster
mother must have hated to give him up! She
sent us home with a wonderful letter telling us
things Craig did and didn’t like. He went to
church with us from the first Sunday we had
him. Our pastor loved Craig so much that when
he was a baby he carried him in his left arm,
as he shook hands with people leaving church.
Craig loved everyone, old or young. As Craig
got a little older,
there was an elderly
widow in church he
liked to sit with, because
she looked lonely.
He was such a happy,
lively, wonderful little boy.
We loved him so much!
One month after we got to bring Craig Franklyn
(Ben’s middle name) home, I became pregnant
with a little boy, named Kent. Craig loved his
baby brother and told me once “Mama, he’s
the cutest little guy I did ever saw.” Two years
after Kent, another little boy joined our family,
Thane. What busy happy years.
When Craig was in first grade, on Valentine’s
Day the class had their usual party and opened
their valentines. Craig rushed home from school
so excited. He said, “Mama, come see my Valentines.”
I was doing something at the moment
so I said “in a minute.” He was jumping up and
down not able to wait so I said, “O.K.”
Craig at seven weeks old.
10

“I want to...express special thanks to the
lovely young girl, who made the choice to
have her baby instead of aborting him. She
made our family so very happy to love and
care for him. I wish somehow she could
know he is now with Jesus for eternity.
We are waiting for the day we will see him
again.”
-Ruby D.
We opened the box and none of the cards
were opened. I said, “Couldn’t you kids open
your cards at the party?” He said “Yes, but I
told my teacher I wanted to open mine with my
mother.” What a very precious moment for me.
When Craig went to the doctor’s office for his
check-up and got his usual sucker, he always
reminded the doctor “I have two little brothers,”
and always ended up with three suckers. Kent
had Perthes disease in one hip and we had to
take him to Hutchinson regularly for check-ups.
Craig and Thane stayed at home with my sister.
Our church was having special services. Mildred
took the other two boys to church Thursday
night. At the end of the service, the preacher
asked anyone who wanted to become a
Christian to come forward. Craig went forward.
Now he also loved Jesus. Later that night, we
came home from Hutch. I debated making
cupcakes for him to take to school to share with
his class for his birthday Friday, but I’m so glad
I did. After service on Friday, our pastor had
us and some friends with children over for ice
cream to celebrate Craig’s birthday.
Saturday March 7, 1964, the day after Craig
became eight years old, he died in a tragic
accident. Any parent who has lost a child can
understand our grief. We are supposed to
leave this earth before our children, but sometimes
we don’t.
I want to close this too long letter to express
special thanks to the lovely young girl, who
made the choice to have her baby instead of
aborting him. She made our family so very
happy to love and care for him. I wish somehow
she could know he is now with Jesus for
eternity. We are waiting for the day we will see
him again.
We also want to thank KCSL for choosing us for
his parents.
I cried as I wrote this, as I always do when I
go down memory lane, but the tears are not so
sad anymore, but happy, for all the fun we had,
so very much! Fishing trips, trips to grandma’s,
Disney Land, New Year’s parade… I couldn’t
include them all.
Craig, second grade (last picture).
1950s
The
11

Brad Heyen
The adoption story of KCSL’s Chairman of the Board
was born in 1965 and was adopted as an
infant. I never remember being told I was
adopted, I just grew up knowing. All I knew
was that I had an awesome family! Stan and
Nell Heyen are my mom and dad, and I never
felt like I was missing out on anything with my
family as an adopted child. My mom read to us,
we did crafts, she took us to church and whatever
we needed… my mom was there. My dad
coached all of my sports activities and was just
the most genuine good man I have ever known.
Even with an annoying little brother who came
around, who I really did like even though he
probably wondered, it was a wonderful life!
As I mentioned, I never remember not knowing
I was adopted, or for that matter caring. My
mom had made a scrap book about her experience
leading up to the day they were able to
bring me home as their own son. It had stories
and pictures and was a great
resource for me to grow up
knowing I was wanted and
loved. As I was coming upon
my teen years I did begin
asking questions about being
adopted. If my parents were threatened by my
inquiries they never let on. In fact, they scheduled
an appointment with KCSL whom I was
adopted through. I can still remember walking
into their building on 13th and Custer. During
that meeting I was provided with some generic
information. They told me that my birth mom
was from the Hutchinson area. I don’t remember
a whole lot else except that they thought I
would be about 6’2” tall. Boy… did they get
that wrong! After my informational meeting I
went about living my perfect childhood. My
father was from Stafford, Kansas and we took
many trips to see my grandma. Those trips took
us out Highway 96 and by Hutchinson.
We soon began making jokes when we
would see the many horse and buggies
around Yoder that “there goes my birth
mom and dad.” We all thought it was
funny!
Jump ahead about ten years and I
am now a young married 22 year
old. My wife is pregnant with my first
son and I start to wonder about the
genetics of my birth parents. My wife
and I were watching a 20/20 show
and it was on adopted kids finding
their birth parents. I made mention
about my questions regarding health
issues and such for our coming baby
and she encouraged me to search
for my birth mom. So I went to my
personal files and looked at my birth
certificates; I actually had two! One of them
was my original birth certificate and it had my
birth mother’s name, Erma Gingerich on it.
I took that name and pulled out the Wichita
phone book and there were four Gingerich’s
listed. I dialed one of the numbers, a lady answered
and I asked “Is Erma there?” Little did
I know it was my half-sister who said, “Is this
the son she gave up for adoption?” I said yes
and she told me that Erma was her mother and
she was living in Oklahoma at that time. She
gave me her phone number and encouraged
me to call. I did. Within an hour of starting my
search for my birth mom I was making the call
to Erma. Wow did that happen fast!
I called Erma and explained that my name
is Brad and I am the son she gave up for
adoption. Erma immediately tells me she has
thought and prayed for me almost every day
since she gave me up. We start filling in the
The1960s
12

blanks of the last 22 years. She was married
and had four girls when she separated from
her husband. During that separation, she met
my birth father and she became pregnant with
me. Then she ended up reconciling with her
husband. However, he did not want another
man’s child so she gave me up for adoption.
Then sadly they ended up divorcing anyway.
Erma then tells me that one of my half-sisters
had been abducted, raped and murdered in
Tulsa exactly one year from the day I called
her. She was having a very hard
day and my call was a gift
from God.
We ended up meeting
and she is the sweetest
lady, and it is
funny the mannerisms
we share.
She explained
that she grew up
in and around
Hutchinson. Her
parents were
full Amish! Her
maiden name
was even Yoder!
It makes me
smile thinking
of the laughs
we had joking
that the horse
and buggy
people were my family…they probably were
relatives! We have gotten together a few times
and send letters once in a while keeping up with
one another. She sends my kids and me cards for
all birthdays and holidays, and on each one she
writes, “God Bless You Real Good.” I think He
has.
One day a few years ago on a Labor Day
weekend, I received a message on my home
phone late one night after a weekend at the lake.
It said to call her no matter what time it was. I
remember turning to my wife and I said, “I bet my
birth father died.” I called Erma and sure enough
I was right. Although Erma had told me about
my birth father I had never met or talked to him.
He had married and had a family and I didn’t
pursue searching for him. With Erma’s call I did
end up meeting my birth father, at his funeral. It
My Adopted Son
by Charlotte Stephens
Adopted a boy (pictured right) through KCSL in 1965.
was weird but interesting to see some physical
similarities.
I tell my story because it amazes me how God
has worked in my life and those around me.
Today, I walk in the KCSL building on 13th and
Custer as the Board Chair for the organization.
To piece everything together like He did takes an
amazing plan. I look forward to seeing what else
His plan has in store for me!
I share my story in hopes that someone may realize
that it is God’s plan for them to enter a child’s
life. Thank you to God for bringing my mom and
dad, Stan and Nell to me. Thank you to mom
and dad for as good a life as anyone could ever
wish for. Thank you to Erma for giving me to my
mom and dad and for her prayers and blessings.
After many years of marriage I thought I’d never see
The joy and contentment a child could bring to me.
I worried and I wondered and said with such dismay
“If only I could have a child to call my own someday.”
After many years of hoping and praying, God finally answered with such joy
He said, “For you to love and care for I’ve given you a boy.”
He said “It is your job to give him love and teach him right from wrong”
“That’s the only way he will feel secure and grow up to be strong.”
How many years later I can tell God “Thank you it was all worthwhile”
Because I know I did good when his eyes meet mine with that beautiful smile.
Now my job of raising him is over as I travel on through life
But now to add to my joy and happiness he has two children and a wife.
13

Historical Facts
The Howayeck Family
Moving up on the waiting list
In 1970, the League dedicated the Allen
building at 13th and Custer in Wichita.
e were a career Air Force family. We
both loved children and had already
adopted a baby girl at a previous assignment in
Goose Bay, Labrador. When we were transferred
to McConnell Air Force Base, we submitted
our application with KCSL. Our first child
was five years old and we were eager to adopt
another child to be a part of our family. Our
first adoption experience had been so positive
that it didn’t leave any doubt that we wanted to
repeat it!
My memories of our adoption experience with
KCSL were extremely positive but with a sprinkling
of anxiety as we went through all the meetings
(individual and group) with other couples
on the “WAITING LIST.” Multiple home visits
from our base chaplain, caseworker, reference
checks, letters of reference from both sets of prospective
grandparents, etc. It seemed to entail
an endless list of requirements. Lots of preparation
and forethought went into this adoption, as
well it should have.
KCSL was meticulous in the complete, thorough
and professional handling of the adoption of
our baby. Our situation was unique as prospective
adoptive parents due to our concern that
we might be transferred to a new base before
we had moved up on that darn “WAITING
LIST.” Had that happened, our hopes of expanding
our family would have been dashed!
Fate ruled in our favor and our baby girl was
born November 23, 1972, Thanksgiving Day.
She was placed in our family December 29,
1972. Happy New Year! I cannot describe the
excitement! A dream come true… our second
child! She was as beautiful as our first daughter—one
blond, the next brunette. Each different
but equally treasured! No family could have
been happier!
Following Amy’s placement, on our caseworker’s
first home visit she brought us a handwritten
letter from our baby’s birth mother. It
In 1973, KCSL established the Black Adoption
Project in Kansas City. Up until this date, Black
adoption had not been greatly offered in this
community.
Amy with her sister.
14

was beautiful, loving, touching, sad and oh
so powerful! That one letter set the tone and
the direction for all the years following that
moment. I had never met this woman, but she
already had my understanding and admiration
for her courage while I, at the same time,
shared her sadness. It was a letter of love and
pain in making a difficult decision for someone
else’s life. How incredible that letter was and
what impact it carried! To this very day she has
my undying respect and most sincere gratitude!
And while I can rejoice in the gift she gave us,
I am also still touched by sadness that she as
birth mother missed the joys we had raising her
baby, our daughter!
We were so appreciative that KCSL determined
it appropriate to share this letter with us. We
kept that letter and shared it with our daughter
as an older teen. It explained so much about
the lady who loved her so much she gave her
life!
The years flew by too quickly and Amy has
grown and graduated from college and law
school. She is married with two beautiful
daughters of her own. She has known from the
earliest days when she herself was learning to
speak the word “adoption” and what it meant,
the meaning deepening as she matured. It was
always a natural part of our family life from
the earliest years forward through discussions,
conversations, story books, etc. We were very
comfortable and open about both our daughter’s
adoptions.
Knowing it was their decision to make, both
girls understood that we would be willing to
support them in looking for their birth parents
once they grew older (my choice ideally began
after college graduation). Our older daughter
indicated no interest and has remained of the
same mind-set. Amy was curious and did indicate
an interest. We had discussed pros, cons
and possible outcomes, but she had graduated
from college and was ready for the challenge.
If she was ready, then so were her father and
I! We would be there for her or assist if she
requested. There is nothing we would not do
for either of our girls.
Amy was successful in her search, and a meeting
of her birth and adoptive parents was
arranged. Attendees came from Montana,
Michigan and Texas and traveled to Amy’s
home in Ohio. I was gratified to be able to
join Amy in meeting her birth mother’s and
then birth father’s flights at the airport as they
arrived. A feeling of peace and resolution
overcame me as I felt so reassured for Amy
that the search and questions might somehow
begin to be resolved for her. From the adoptive
parents’ perspective this was such a positive
productive experience. Lots of conversations,
sharing of photo albums, questions asked and
answers received—better than anyone would
expect possible! And that lady who wrote that
letter to us as we were beginning our life with
our new baby? Yes, I really liked her just as I
suspected so many years earlier I would! She
was even able to attend Amy’s first baby’s baptism,
traveling from out of state to join our family
for the celebration!
And finally, both of our girls have grown to
be super human beings. Our older girl graduated
from college with a degree in Business
and Amy is a successful patent attorney and
outstanding mother to her two daughters. She
is still in touch with her biological mother. I will
leave it to Amy to tell that part of her story.
As adoptive parents, we can honestly state,
shout, confirm, share and brag to any and all
who will listen and put up with us: ADOPTING
OUR TWO GIRLS WAS UNDOUBTEDLY THE
SINGLE BEST DECISION OF OUR LIVES!! Our
daughters have brought us ultimate joy and
pride as well as two gorgeous loving granddaughters!
Given the opportunity, we would
do it all over again with one exception: we
would have adopted MORE children!! What
an almost magical experience it has been! How
fortunate we are!
Amy with her birth
mother, Aggie and her first child Gabriella.
The1970s
15

Mark Schultz
The greatest gift ever
was adopted at two weeks old from
Kansas Children’s Service League in 1978.
I jokingly say it was the hardest two weeks of
my life, with all the paperwork. It was also
the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I
got two wonderful parents and a brother and
sister. I also received the life experiences and
opportunities that I would not have had otherwise.
As a recording artist I’ve traveled the
world performing for audiences. I’ve married
a beautiful amazing woman, and now I even
have a son of my own.
Being an adopted child has shaped every
aspect of my life in very positive ways. I have
always been so grateful for my birth mom who
made a decision for me before I knew what a
decision was. Rather than have an abortion or
try to raise me without the appropriate means
and resources, she gave me the chance to
have the life I’ve had now.
One of my songs, “Everything to Me,”
describes the gratitude that I have for her unselfish
decision:
“But you had dreams for me/ You wanted the
best for me/ and you made the only choice
The
1980s
you could
that night.
So if you
worry if your choice was right/ When you
gave me up, oh you gave everything to me.”
Looking into my son’s eyes for the first time
and hearing his laugh, I was overcome with
emotion as I realized this was the first blood
relative I’d ever met. It also made me even
more thankful for the decision that was made
for me so many years ago. Holding my son in
my arms and now watching him take his first
steps would never have been possible without
my birth mom’s courage. I hope that when she
hears this song she knows that her choice was
not a mistake but the greatest gift she could
have ever given me.
In honor of the decision that my birth parents
made and also because of the experiences I’ve
had being adopted and now being an adoption
advocate, my wife and I are in the process
of adopting a child ourselves. I can’t wait until
we’re all in heaven and my birth mom can see
how what she did changed my life and left a
legacy for future generations.
The Stigers
A really “Good Friday”
y husband and I had a son in 1975.
Three years later, after months of trying
for another pregnancy, we discovered that we
were infertile. A year of drug therapy and a
varicocelectomy brought no pregnancy, so we
turned to adoption.
We worked with another agency for over a
year and a half, but babies were in short supply.
Somehow, we heard of KCSL and decided
to attend a group session of prospective parents.
We decided at the end of the session to
stop working with the other agency and start
working with KCSL.
To improve our chances, we opened ourselves
to the possibility of getting a child, not just an
infant. We were willing to accept a child with
disabilities. A mere six months later, in 1983,
we got a call about a five month old girl in
Wichita!
The following week, on Holy Thursday, we
drove to Wichita to see our new daughter
Emily. We brought her home on Good Friday
and truly had a blessed Easter.
Emily will be 30 years old in October and is a
beautiful, young woman. She is a proud aunt
to her brother’s son and her birth sister’s three
sons. She earned a Bachelors of Arts from the
University of Kansas and currently works for
the state. We cannot imagine our lives without
Emily!
16

Annye Doviak
Beating the odds
e began fostering in December
1992. Our first child was 10 weeks
old when he entered our family and took
over our lives. Anthony was so sick and
small but over the next six months, he blossomed.
We were asked to adopt Anthony
by his birth mother. We couldn’t imagine
life without him. We changed his name to
Jorydan Wesley-Jerell Doviak. It took several
months before the adoption was final. In the
meantime, we were told that Jorydan would
probably reach age seven and mentally not
progress any further because of the drug
and alcohol addiction during pregnancy. He
did struggle, but for a very short time. Once
Preschool started Jorydan hasn’t stopped
talking or achieving his life’s goals. He was
very busy with football, basketball, baseball
and wrestling all through his school years. He
went to State for wrestling and placed 10th!
He graduated with his senior class with good
grades. Jorydan is extremely funny; he constantly
entertains everyone around him. He is
fiercely loyal and loves his family and friends
without judgment.
November of 2011 was a sad but exciting
time for all of us. Jorydan decided
to join his brothers and follow in his dad’s
footsteps and became a Marine. Wow! As
a Marine, he is studying Meteorology in his
first year of school. It is something he has
loved since he was big enough to turn on
the TV. He is second in his class. We are
so proud of Jorydan and can’t imagine life
without him! Yes, we miss him and love him
unconditionally! But Jorydan has spread his
wings a little and gone out into the big world
to continue to prove to everyone that just
because you are adopted doesn’t mean you
can’t beat the odds. We are content to know
that he misses us all as much as we miss him.
From all of Jorydan’s family—Thank God for
small bundles of joy.
Historical Facts
In the mid 90s, Governor Graves instituted a
plan to contract out family preservation, foster
care and adoption contracts to private organizations.
As a result, KCSL was awarded the
regional family preservation and foster care
contracts for the state in 1996. Four years
later, KCSL was awarded the statewide adoption
contract, which was previously held by
Lutheran Services.
Today, KCSL does not provide case management
services for adoption, foster care and
family preservation, but we continue to be
a strong advocate for adoption through our
Adopt Kansas Kids website, www.adoptkskids.
org and through From Heart to Home Infant
Adoption Services. Adoptkskids.org provides
pictures and bios for every foster child in the
state that is currently waiting for their forever
family. We field inquiries that come in from
families through the website and work to
find the best match for each child. We also
continue to provide private adoption services
through From Heart to Home. Last year we
finalized seven private adoptions for deserving
families waiting for their bundle of joy.
Left: Charley, Age 14,
adoptkskids.org Below:
new From Heart to
Home mom Elise with
baby Caroline
The
1990s

The Harbaugh Family
Two babies From Heart to Home
e are Mike and Shawndra Harbaugh,
and this is our story….
Mike and I were married in 1999 and knew
we wanted to have a family right away. We
started trying to have a child, and after a year
and half, we were finally pregnant! On April
12, 2001, we had a beautiful baby boy
Michael, but moments after his birth, our world
was shaken. Our new son was born with seven
different heart defects and had to go through
four open heart surgeries in the first two and a
half years of his life. We wanted to focus our
full attention on Michael
and his health, so we put
off trying to have any
more children until after
his last surgery.
When the time was right,
we tried to conceive
again. After three years
and numerous failed
attempts with the help
of a fertility doctor, we
decided to pursue adoption.
We signed on with an international
adoption agency and
began the journey to adopt from
China. After waiting for over
two years with no end in sight, we
started doing research on adoptions in the U.S.
We came across the KCSL website and learned
about the From Heart to Home (FHTH) infant
adoption program and called for information.
After comparing KCSL with many agencies, we
both agreed that KCSL’s FHTH program felt like
the right fit. We started the adoption process
again in 2007 with FHTH and shortly after, I
discovered that KCSL was the agency
that my dad had been adopted from
when he was 8 months old!
In January 2009, we were matched
with a birth mother and were beyond
excited! Our dreams of expanding our
family were finally coming true! On
March 25, 2009, our son Kylar was
born! We fell in love with him the
moment he was placed in our arms.
In the spring of 2011, we felt we were
meant to have one more child. We
called FHTH
again and on
February 8,
2013 we
received another
life changing
phone
call. We were
matched with a
baby girl! We
were beyond
excited and
made a mad
dash to the store to buy lots of pink! We met
Sidney, our new daughter, at the hospital on
February 9, and fell in love with her instantly.
Her brothers also fell in love the moment they
laid eyes on her. She has made our family
complete.
We sincerely thank KCSL and FHTH for helping
us though the journey of creating our family.
We could not be more blessed!
Both of Kylar and Sidney’s adoptions are
closed adoptions. We plan to always be open
and honest with them about adoption. I once
read this saying, “Adoption is when a child
grew in its mommy’s heart instead of her tummy,”
which is so true. We could not love Kylar
and Sidney more if we had given birth to them.
We love all three of our children the same.
Mike and Shawndra with their two
sons Michael and Kylar.
The2000s
18

Reen Berges
Shawndra Harbaugh’s father
My father, Reen, was adopted in the early part
of 1949 around the age of six months. He
never knew any different. He was adopted and
didn’t really spend a lot of time thinking about it
or asking questions. He said he can remember
as early as age four or five knowing that he
was adopted, and that he had no desire to look
for his biological family because he knew who
his parents were -- his adopted mom and dad.
He said that he had great parents and never
questioned their commitment to him as their
adopted son. When Mike and I told him that
we were going through KCSL to adopt an infant
in 2009, he shared that he also was adopted
through the same agency.
On April 25, 2008, the League dedicated the Bette and
Mark Morris Center for Children and Families in Topeka.
Janelle Dubree
Advocates for adoption through fostering
e started our adoption story in
2002 with KCSL. Since then, we
have adopted 13 children, six of them
through KCSL. We originally looked to add
to our family through adoption because I
believed that although we had previously
given birth to our oldest son Dustin, in my
first marriage that I was unable to conceive
again. However, after starting the adoption
process, I became pregnant with our daughter
Cydnee, and when she was a year old,
Hershel was placed with our family. Later,
we saw the need for homes for children available
for adoption and made the decision to
continue to add to our family. I specifically
felt that we were meant to adopt sibling
groups that might otherwise be split up. We,
along with our birth children, have learned
compassion and how to handle various situations
and personalities. We get enjoyment
from watching all of our children’s faces in
their ‘FIRSTS’; rodeo, play, birthday celebrations,
going skating/bowling, participation in
sports/orchestra/band, cruise, vacation, zoo
outing...the list goes on. As a mother, I have
learned not to take my children’s negative
behaviors personally and by no means is it a
reflection on me as a parent. I have learned
not to expect an overnight healing as it may,
and does, take years for our children to heal.
We have always
been open about
adopting mainly
through the foster
care system and
are quite vocal
to others about
adoption. We
try to advocate
to others the
need for adoptive
homes and give information to those interested
in adopting. We decided to have open
adoptions with some of our children’s birth
families, when available, and some are quite
active in our lives.
Dubree children on a Disney Dream Cruise Vacation.
19

Joe and Jeanette Wood
Dreaming of adoption
ur story begins with our baby’s birth parents,
Katie and Doug. They were high
school sweethearts. Married now for thirteen
years they have struggled to make ends meet
on Doug’s income only. Katie, a stay at home
mom, takes care of their only child, a little boy,
now age six, who has Muscular Dystrophy
(MD). They have been devoted and good
parents.
On a hot July morning in 2011, Katie and Doug
had a second son. They recognized that they
could not afford to raise another child and
made the choice to call KCSL for help. Ultimately,
Doug and Katie placed their new son
for adoption in KCSL’s From Heart to Home
Infant adoption program. You see, Katie herself
had experienced abuse as a child and was
placed in foster care until she was adopted at
age seven. She wanted to make certain that her
baby would
never be
involved in
that system
and would
find a good
home with
parents who
would love
him from the beginning. Katie and Doug’s
unselfish gift of the heart ensured that Baby
Daniel is now loved and cherished and
safely placed at home with a Mom and
Dad, and his new family!
e’re Joe and Jeanette Wood,
Daniel’s adoptive parents. We are
delighted to be the parents of 11 children--six
that were born from us physically and five that
were born from our hearts through adoption.
My husband and I used to talk about adoption
prior to our marriage. We would sit and dream
and talk about all the “what if’s.”
Once we married, we began a family and
started talking to our children about adoption.
They were always told that they had siblings
that had not yet come to our family and would
often pray for them before bed or their meals.
It wasn’t until our sixth child was born that the
doors were opened and a little boy entered
our heart and home. A few years later the Lord
brought to us a sibling set of three and we
thought our family was “complete”. However, a
few years later we found that our grandparents
and children all supported us so that there was
another child that was to enter our home. We
decided we would hire an attorney, complete
our Home Assessment and wait. We told our
attorney, “we’re not looking for a child; we just
feel we need to be ready for the child that is
going to find us.” It was almost a year later,
on a Saturday morning, when we all talked
as a family about adoption and if we still felt
this was God’s plan for us. We concluded our
conversation with, “Let’s ask the Lord to make
His answer clear to us,” a mere 15 minutes later
we had an e-mail from our attorney describing
a beautiful little boy who we now call our son,
Daniel. He has blessed our lives in ways that I
cannot fully articulate. When one of his siblings
was asked how Daniel had impacted their life
they replied, “I smile more. We all smile more.”
It’s been two very full, busy and joyous years
since we first laid eyes on our sweet child. Our
family is richer because of each child that is
part of it. Adopted or biological makes no difference;
each child is chosen and passionately
loved!
Baby Daniel
The2010s
20

An ongoing legacy of
finding safe and
loving homes continues
today at adoptkskids.
org. KCSL staff works
hard every day to respond
to inquiries that
come in from the website,
and match adoptive families
with the right kids.
These are just a few of
the 400 children in Kansas
currently waiting for
their forever family.
Javell, 9 Jesus & Maria, 7 & 10 Brandon, 14
Tesa, 13 Lindi, 14 Zach, 12
Tierra, 13
James, Jazzy & Jay, 14, 12 & 11
Marcus, 12 Jayzion, 16
Dorothy & Shawn, 7&6 Logan, 15
The
FUTURE
21

Child Culture
by Rev. George L. Hosford, Founder of
Christian Service League, 1915
THE GREATEST TRUST ever committed to any people is the
child-life of the nation. In whatever degree we hold the children
precious, in that degree, only, will the nation prosper permanently
and grow in strength. When the children are neglected,
the nation will grow weak and puny.
Our hope is in our children, and our children’s children. They
are more precious than all other possessions. They are the
nation’s greatest asset. If we found our hopes upon the
preservation and development of our natural resources, we will
some day be disappointed. If we put our trust in stocks and
bonds and bank deposits, we may grow extremely wealthy, but
with all we will grow corrupt. Luxury, avarice and lust will be a
canker to the soul. Pampered, petted and intoxicated with the
wine of pleasure, our children will lack the sinew, the nerve and
the spirit which makes strong men and women.
Let the virtue, honesty, sobriety, and beauty of life be first,
and prosperity will follow. Let us bestow the best we have upon
our children and teach them, that they owe everything of good
which they have received and inherited, and as much more as
they can possibly acquire, to succeeding generations. No man
or woman ever occupied a higher or more sacred mission, or
held a holier office than that of parent. Before we can have
child-culture, we must have parent-culture.
THE GREATEST NEED OF SOCIETY IS THAT CULTURE WHICH
WILL FULLY QUALIFY MEN AND WOMEN FOR PARENT-
HOOD.
22

Parent Culture
by Dona Booe, KCSL President/CEO, 2013
Nearly 100 years ago my predecessor,
George Lewis Hosford, wrote powerful words
about a child culture that remain true to the
mission of KCSL today and define the core values
we still integrate into all of our work with
children and families. A culture that encourages
healthy child development, so that our
country can thrive, will only be accomplished
when all parents have the skills and emotional
capacity needed for good parenting. We
are truly positioned as an organization for
the future to prevent child abuse through our
services. There are few resources, like KCSL,
where parents can voluntarily reach out for
help and education without any fear of threat,
embarrassment, or reprisal.
Kids don’t come with instructions. So parents
come to KCSL. They come to break the cycle
of generations of poor parenting practices; to
understand their child’s needs and behaviors;
to navigate complicated systems of education
and health care; to become a family for a
child who has none. They come because they
want a better life for their child than perhaps
they experienced themselves. We are not
so different, any of us, in this regard. After
all, there are likely few parents who have not
reached out for the experience and wisdom of
a trusted friend or family member when raising
a child.
More than sixty years of research and evidence
confirms that child abuse is preventable
if we open our doors and hearts to parents
early, before bad habits are formed, when the
joy of parenting for the first time is fresh and
new. Despite the overwhelming challenges
that brought them to us, together with parents
we celebrate each milestone of change and
accountability achieved. And with enthusiasm
we encourage parents to dream even bigger
for their children’s future. Because we know
that as a country, we all do better when children
and families thrive.
If Mr. Hosford was correct all those years
ago that “the greatest need of society is that
culture which will fully qualify men and women
for parenthood,” how long then will we continue
to invest the most in those interventions
that come too late for both children and their
parents? When then can we hope to see the
needed level of commitment to this more positive
and less costly path of child abuse prevention
adopted?
Let it be before another 120 years pass.
23

www.kcsl.org • 877-530-5275
www.adoptkskids.org • 877-457-5430