By Staff
story by Lydia Grimes
Nathaniel and Sarah Roach have three very special reasons to be thankful this year.
The couple, both from large families themselves, have welcomed three children to their family - two in just the past year - through adoption.
Austin, 10, Nicole, 2, and Kylee, 1, were always in the couple's plans for their life.
Nathaniel is the pastor of House of Prayer Holiness Church, and he said the family has a deep faith.
The couple admits they had some preconceived notions about the Department of Human Resources.
That is when they made contact with Tracy James, who works with adopted children and adoptive parents at DHR.
In Escambia County, 13 homes are approved for foster care and adoption, and six are pending approval, James said. The county has 20 children in foster care, with 11 who are 13 and older and nine who are 12 and under.
Couples like the Roaches go through a 10-week training program for foster and adoptive parents.
The Roaches followed the rules of 10-week training and the home study that goes with it. Foster and adoptive families must be cleared through the Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry as well as pass a criminal history check. They must be physically able to care for children and financially able to care for children as well.
The Roaches have fostered six other children besides the three they have adopted.
The couple's own loving relationship has been a good foundation for the family, she said.