Chris and Jennifer Crotts’ story began in 2006. Over the past 18 years they have built the All American family that they felt was complete after their third child was born. Chris, 1SG, is a member of the National Guard and has served our country for the last 19 years, which has included four deployments. While Chris has been serving his country, as well as the community of Oakley and his family, united together, they felt the call to pursue becoming foster parents. In 2020, they officially became foster parents, serving Northwest Kansas in a way that only certain hearts can.

Over the past four years, they have successfully reunified two of their five foster children and continue to help their families to this day. Jennifer continues to take one of these former foster children to therapy every week 180 miles round trip because Jennifer knows she thrives at this therapy place and continues to see great gains in her speech and OT. Jennifer asks nothing in return, she just loves seeing her girl’s face weekly! Back in the Spring, they saw a need to help their first foster son again. Out of the goodness of their hearts, they opened their home again to this child to help him during the school year. Jennifer continues to serve these families while Chris has been deployed.

In early 2023, Chris and Jennifer fought furiously for their third foster child. They wanted to make sure he was safe at all times and unfortunately, the system failed this child. After this, they were done with the system that failed him (and other kids).

Fast forward to 1.5 months later, they got a call to take in a 3 week old and a 14 month old sibling set. They couldn’t say no, as they knew that they would need someone who would show them the love of family and to advocate for them. And they have, through ups and downs, rough nights, all while raising their three children. In the Fall of 2023, Chris’ military unit in the National Guard was called to serve, they knew they couldn’t cause anymore trauma to them by placing them in a new foster family, as they were already bonded with their family, so they decided that Jenn would keep raising them while Chris served (and continues to serve) overseas.

Over the course of the last few months, the system was proceeding with severing parent rights. There was no hesitation in their minds that they would legally have them join their family through adoption. Everything was going according to plan with this process, until it wasn’t.

Logistics cannot be shared, but these precious children will soon be ripped from the only home they really ever have known, from the only family they know, from the only love they know, to be placed four states away solely because of their blood.

The system is working against these two children and it’s absolutely not in the best interest of the children. These two children are very bonded with their foster family, many friends, daycare provider, and many, many members of the community.

A friend said, “They are not only your babies, but the community's. We all love them."

The Crotts family has found a much-recommended lawyer to help contest this placement, but that comes with a hefty price tag. These babies are worth every cent. There isn’t a lot of time, they need this lawyer before the end of the week.

Chris continues to serve his deployment through the end of the year and Jennifer is raising five kids herself, on top of worrying about her husband, the fate of her babies, and she doesn’t need this worry as well.

Chris and Jennifer would do anything for the people in their community, their unit, and this country. This is our opportunity to join them in advocating for these children (and all the others in the system). Let’s continue to show that the love is strong for these children and this family. They belong with the Crotts family, they belong in our community.