One moment of connection was all it took for middle school teacher Lara Collier to make a life-altering commitment to become a fierce single foster mom, reunification advocate, and believer in the power of showing up.
It was before her teaching career, though, that the idea of fostering was introduced to her. Following graduation from college, Lara was enveloped with love and care by a couple in her circle who soon became more like family. That couple began their fostering journey, exposing Lara to the joys and heartaches of foster care, and ultimately revealing it as the path through which she’d likely build her family.
Lara began her life as a middle school teacher, championing young learners in the classroom, when one of her students shared she lived in a group home.
“That conversation pulled at my heart in a way nothing else had. I finally felt ready to jump in,” Lara said. “That moment became the catalyst that changed my life.”
After learning of that student’s life outside of school, she knew there was never going to be a perfect time to get licensed. It was just important she got started.
Now, since 2018, Lara has welcomed more than 20 children into her home from emergency hotline placements to short-term and long-term stays to newborn placements.
In a true stroke of meaning, Lara’s first child in her care was a 6-month-old little girl, and the little sister of the student who inspired her to foster.
“That shaped everything I believe about connection,” Lara said.
Over the years, children have stayed with Lara for a few nights or a few months, but two stayed forever. Her two adopted daughters, Farrah and Cassidy, officially joined Lara within the last two years, while all continuing to welcome others in need of stability and love into their home.
“Adoption didn’t replace their story, it added to it,” Lara said of her daughters’ adoptions. “We hold space for love, gratitude, and grief all at once.”
With the experience from her career in teaching, Lara’s skills from the classroom transfer home, emphasizing the importance of stability and care in all aspects of her life.
“Teaching taught me patience, flexibility, and how to stay steady when things get hard,” Lara said. “It also taught me how to advocate for kids, for families, and for what’s best long-term. Seeing the challenges these kids bring to school taught me how to show up for them there, and that same care carries over into how I parent and love them at home.”
Love guides Lara in her parenting and teaching, but fostering doesn’t come without its challenges. High caseworker turnover, reunification struggle, and unsafe situations are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the realities of foster care, but none of that means it isn’t worth making a difference for children in care.
“Loving these kids while managing all of that complexity is intense, heartbreaking, and sometimes overwhelming, but it’s also where the depth and purpose of foster care shines and why every moment matters,” Lara said.
As a single parent, Lara experiences some of these challenges differently from others in the foster care world, but she hopes those interested in fostering don’t hesitate to start their journey independently.
“Single parents can do this,” she said. “With the right village and a lot of heart, showing up can help you build a family full of laughter, connection, and joy. Our home is proof, and yes, there’s often cheering… sometimes literally and very loudly with two little girls! Fostering isn’t scary, and adopting as a single parent can feel intimidating, but it’s absolutely worth it. These kids deserve love, safety, and the chance to thrive… And they’re worth every bit of it.”
For the path that built her family and her way of life, foster care means everything to Lara and her daughters.
“Foster care means opening your home and heart,” Lara said. “It means cheering loudly, loving boldly, and believing kids do best when surrounded by people who show up. Foster care is about support, not replacement. It’s about safety, healing, and community, even when the story is messy or complicated.”
This true story is brought to you by The Collier Family. If you or someone you know is a foster family and are interested in sharing your story with us, please visit Tell Your Story.
Created by Keeley Lamm, Bananas Foster