By Lauren Padilla
When Stella Cotton accepted a role at Kennedy Krieger Institute over a decade ago, she wasn’t just choosing a job. Though she didn’t know it then, she was taking the first steps on a path that would lead her to her son.
After learning about Kennedy Krieger’s Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) program, Cotton hoped that joining the group would allow her to give back to her community. She planned to become a respite care provider, offering backup support to foster families on a temporary, as-needed basis. But everything changed when she met Jasper.
“It really was like love at first sight,” Cotton says.
Making Connections
In 2013, Cotton started a position as a member of the Institute’s credentialing team, working to ensure the organization continues to meet quality, professional and safety standards. It was through that role that she first learned about TFC. Cotton recalls how Dr. Suzanne Rybczynski, former associate chief medical officer at Kennedy Krieger, would champion the program.
“She would give out information to the whole department,” Cotton says, “about the wonderful things going on with TFC, the great impact it’s making.”
Exploring Opportunities
One day, while enjoying her local farmers’ market, Cotton spotted some recruiting tables for TFC. By that time, she’d heard about the program, and she was pleasantly surprised to see them in the neighborhood.
“I didn’t think they would be out there,” she says. “It was wonderful to be able to see them in our community.”
Cotton spoke with a TFC recruiter, MarLear Alston, asking questions about the process and how to join. At the time, Cotton was actively looking for a way to support her community.
“I just got through with my birthday, and I wanted something to give back to,” she says.
She recalls seeing news reports about foster care programs struggling with resources and recruitment, and she figured she could help. Since Cotton had recently purchased her own home, she now had the extra space to participate.
After additional conversations with the TFC recruitment team, Cotton learned about respite care. While serving as a foster parent involves caring for a child full time, respite providers offer care on a temporary or as-needed basis—ranging from a few hours to a week, depending on need.
To Cotton, serving as a respite provider sounded like the perfect opportunity to get started, and in August 2022, she submitted her application to the TFC program.
Discovering a New Community
When Cotton joined TFC, it was her first time learning extensively about foster care systems. Reflecting on her experience, she is thankful for the in-depth support she received, including medical, psychological and educational resources, as well as mentorship and training from her “new family” at TFC.
“Other people are cheering you on in this process because they also know what these kids have been though, and they want to be there and help push these kids to great heights,” she says.
Meeting Jasper
In September 2023, Cotton was scheduled to begin her first placement as a respite provider. She recalls feeling apprehensive in the moments before, not knowing what to expect. But when Cotton met Jasper, her first child, her doubts fell away.
“I had him for a few days, and he was absolutely the best, just fun, bubbly,” she says. “We just had fun together. We did parks. We did playgrounds. We had pizza.”
She noticed that Jasper needed “extra attention on some things,” but that really “he was just a kid.” Their meeting would become the first of many.
“His foster mother had other things that came up in the next few months,” Cotton says. “Since I worked really well with him, she chose me again for other times.”
As Cotton and Jasper got to know each other better, Cotton noticed little ways she could make him feel comfortable.
Building a Forever Family
After connecting more and more with Jasper, Cotton started to consider the possibility of adoption. She talked with Jasper about the path forward.
“Before the adoption, I asked him if he would like me to be his forever mommy,” she says.
With support from TFC, Cotton decided to embark on the adoption journey.
“This was a scary process in the beginning for me, something I totally committed to that I didn’t have any idea how to navigate.”
The adoption took about a year and involved many complex steps, including navigating parental rights and other procedures. Still, even though the process was long, Cotton emphasized it was enlightening.
“It also reminded me that Jasper is one great kid, but there are a lot of hands in this that took care of him. He’s loved,” Cotton says.
As the adoption moved forward, Cotton wanted to be mindful of helping Jasper merge his past with his future as seamlessly as possible.
“I wanted to make certain that he is not losing anything. He is gaining family,” she says. “A new branch of love.”
Welcoming the Unexpected
Cotton finalized her adoption in December 2025. Reflecting on her journey with TFC, Cotton acknowledges that her path wasn’t one she or those closest to her would have predicted.
“I tell people a lot of the time, ‘I didn’t have this in my plan,’” Cotton says.
When she told her Texas-based family about the adoption process, they were surprised.
“I was a single person. I did not have a boyfriend, and I was divorced for a long time. My family always knew me as a single auntie,” she says. “They were a little shocked because they didn’t know that I had chosen this path. But in the end, Jasper loves his Texas family. They really supported us and have been a great influence for him.”
Embracing Love
Today, Jasper is 9 years old. Cotton describes her son as friendly, positive and, above all, full of love. One of Jasper’s favorite things, she says, is giving out hugs. He also loves cuddling and rubbing noses with his mom (a ritual they affectionately call “ugga muggas”).
When considering advice she’d give to families who are considering the TFC program, Cotton encourages them to be open and honest with themselves about their level of motivation and potential impact.
“If you’re really ready to make a commitment (because it is a commitment) to help a child understand the world or understand life,” she says, “I think this could be a wonderful experience, and you might just find yourself falling in love.”
Get Involved With Kennedy Krieger’s Therapeutic Foster Care Program
Since 1986, Kennedy Krieger’s Therapeutic Foster Care program has been offering a continuum of services for children with medically complex, developmental, emotional and/or behavioral conditions who require temporary or permanent out-of-home placement. No matter how much time you have, you can make a big difference in their lives. Learn more about the TFC program at Kennedy Krieger and how you can help.
