‘A calling’: Paid foster parents are changing outcomes for NC children

June 5, 2026 - 13:19

Crossnore President Brett Loftis and CEO Sarah Norris are making the case for a shift in how North Carolina cares for its most vulnerable children. They describe professional foster parenting not just as a job, but as a calling that is fundamentally changing outcomes for kids in the state's overwhelmed child welfare system.

The traditional model of volunteer foster care has long struggled with high turnover and a shortage of homes. Loftis and Norris argue that treating foster parenting as a paid, professional role brings stability and specialized support that children desperately need. By compensating caregivers as skilled professionals, the system can attract a more dedicated workforce, reduce the number of times a child is moved, and provide better therapeutic care for those who have experienced trauma.

Norris emphasized that this approach is not about replacing the heart of foster care, but about strengthening it. When parents are given a living wage, ongoing training, and 24/7 clinical support, they can focus entirely on the child's healing rather than worrying about their own financial survival. Loftis noted that early results from pilot programs show children in professional foster homes are more likely to achieve permanency, whether through reunification or adoption, and less likely to experience the instability that leads to poor educational and mental health outcomes.

The leaders are pushing for broader state adoption of this model, seeing it as a necessary evolution to fix a broken system. They believe that by redefining the role of a foster parent as a valued, compensated professional, North Carolina can finally provide the consistent, loving care that every child deserves.