When Ashley and Jason Mimm began their foster parenting journey in 2019, they could have never anticipated the impact they would have on so many children and families. As a pediatric nurse and case manager specializing in helping medically fragile children, Ashley saw firsthand the significant demand for foster homes for children in need, which inspired her and Jason to become foster parents. In addition to providing a safe and supportive home, they were uniquely positioned to help the parents of the children. Having a child of their own with medical needs, Ashley and Jason were willing and determined to help other parents in their journey to support children with similar demands.
In addition to caring for the children in their home, the Mimms walk alongside the birth parents, doing whatever they can to help the families work towards being reunited with their children. Many of the parents have told the Mimms that they wouldn’t have been able to care for their children without their support. Building strong relationships with the biological parents is one of the most rewarding aspects of fostering for Ashley. “Letting these parents know that you are there to support them as well as their children goes a long way. The chance of staying in the child’s life outweighs everything.”
Kelly Torrise, Pressley Ridge Foster Care Case Planner, says the Mimms are an exemplary foster family who are always willing to help new foster parents. “Ashley and Jason are the kind of family who makes everything look easy – from managing the day-to-day emotional and physical needs of the whole family to managing the appointments and birth parent visits – all while working full time jobs.”
Each year, Pressley Ridge finds a safe, nurturing home for thousands of children, infants to age 21, who have been affected by trauma, and as a result, may have behavioral or emotional needs. Through the organization’s nationally recognized treatment foster care program, treatment parents are specially trained to support a child’s emotional and developmental needs and provide the love, care, skills and supervision to help them overcome their difficult experiences.
Throughout the foster parenting process, Pressley Ridge was always there to support the Mimm family. “Pressley Ridge provided above and beyond support, even working on Saturdays to provide resources for our family through all sorts of situations. We knew from the first weekend of fostering, that we made the right decision in choosing Pressley Ridge as our partnering agency.” Ashley recalls when Pressley Ridge came in to interview their family for their case profile, “The staff was so accommodating. We always felt like we could talk openly with them about any topics. We felt so prepared going into the foster parenting process.”
The goal of all foster care placements is permanency, which could mean safely returning the youth to their biological family or, in some cases, adoption. With three biological children of their own, Ashley and Jason didn’t set out on their fostering journey with adoption in mind. They just wanted to provide a safe place for any child in need, but after their first few placements, Ashley and Jason realized they were being called to do more. In March 2022, they finalized the adoption of three-year-old twin boys. The Mimm family continues to welcome children into their home and offer support and guidance for their families.
Pressley Ridge is seeking treatment foster parents in all six states they serve, which includes PA, WV, OH, MD, DE and VA. For more information on Pressley Ridge’s Treatment Foster Care services and pre-service training, visit www.pressleyridge.org/
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