While Patricia did not get into the details of her son’s past, she did say, “Jordan has come a long way. He’s made accomplishments that are major.”
Jordan, a freshman at Penn Hills High School, is in the ROTC program and, like his brother, attends Forbes Road Career &Technology Center where he is training to be an EMT.
Although Robert, Anthony and Jordan are just three of the five sons to be adopted, Patricia is extremely proud of all her children. “We did good by these boys. We made our mark. Pat and Thuggie’s boys, can’t nobody tell me nothing about our boys.”
When asked why they do what they do, James simply said, “It’s in our hearts. We love kids.”
Patricia, who is also the president of the Pressley Ridge Parent Advisory Committee, said all her placements have been for long periods of time and sees them as being a success, meaning the youths only left her home to be reunited with their families. She credits CYF and Pressley Ridge with a lot of the family’s success.
She explained that it begins with having a strong foundation, agencies that really support their families and give them the proper education and training; and then it trickles into the family unit.
“It takes everyone being on the same page,” Patricia said. “I never had a problem getting help from either agency when I needed it; and that’s what it takes—having great advocates.”
She said it also takes listening to the child, really having a vested interest in them and connecting with them. “You have to want to know about the child, it’s not just words. If you care enough you find what’s important and that’s how you connect. I listen; I want to know.”
Patricia also credits her husband for their family’s success. She said there is no better role model her children could have.
Like most families, there have been hardships, but Patricia said the key to getting through them is not dwelling on the negative and leaning on one’s support system.
Amy Fenn, senior director of the Western PA Pressley Ridge office, said the Taylors were a perfect match for Pressley Ridge because their agency specializes in matching older children with families.
“They have a nice combination of being firm and having expectations, but also giving the kids enough space to make mistakes. That’s an important skill when taking-in teens. (The Taylors) are really skilled foster parents, and I’m sure parents too; but fostering is just a unique situation and it requires a whole new set of skills,” Fenn said of the Taylors over the years. “I’m just incredibly impressed. There are almost situations that just don’t work out, but that’s not the case here. A lot of people want to foster little kids, but to have people who really enjoy taking in teens, that’s just the best situation we could find.”
Fenn agreed that the Taylors have never had a disruption and said, “all their endings have been positive.”
As for the youth that the Taylors did not adopt, Patricia said they still keep in touch with her today. “Their hearts are warm, they don’t forget. Anyone could come back to get a meal. The door is always open. If they need that warmth of a home, they know where they can find it,” she said.
Although they are in their seventies, the Taylors said if the right child came along and needed a home, they would most certainly open their doors again.
“We would never close our heart or our door; we’ve been too open to helping to protect and groom children to become strong, healthy, able-bodied adults,” said Patricia.
The family has a strong love and respect for each other and that, she said, is the foundation.
“It takes a village and you have to be an active part.” Patricia thanks Pressley Ridge, CYF and the community for being an active part in her family’s lives.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, families who, like the Taylors, have decided to step up, and share their hearts and homes with youth in need, will be celebrated during National Adoption Day. On that day, adoptions for 40 children who have been in foster care through the DHS Office of CYF will be finalized in Children’s Court.
“This is a day that gives us a chance to celebrate families that come forth and are willing to say, ‘We’re going to make the Pittsburgh region a better place by adopting children who want to be adopted,’” said Smith. “It’s also an opportunity for us to celebrate the formation of family. And what you see emerge on that day is some of the best parts of people.”
(For more information on preparing to be an adoptive family, contact the DHS Office of Children, Youth and Families Adoption Office at 412-473-2300 or the StateWide Adoption Network (SWAN) at 1-800-585-SWAN (7926) or visit https://www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/adopt.aspx)
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