Michele McIntosh always had a big heart and a welcoming home. Her daughters, Veronica and Kelli, grew up understanding that their mother’s care extended far beyond their own family. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, they saw early on that there was a deep need for foster care and that their mother felt called to meet it.
Foster care had always been on Michele’s heart, but the timing didn’t feel right. She often joked that if she could make it through raising her daughters’ teenage years, then she could survive anything the world threw at her.
That moment came when Veronica began working as a county social worker. Seeing her daughter step into that world gave Michele the push she needed. The two encouraged each other—Veronica witnessing firsthand how vital stable homes are for children, and Michele opening hers to provide one.
When Kelli was 16, their house began to grow. Michele welcomed her first foster placement into the family, setting a simple but firm rule: leave the drama at the door; otherwise, our home is yours. It didn’t take long for her to realize that fostering isn’t a sprint but a steady, ongoing journey.
“My first placement was there one moment and then gone the next – she had run away!” Michele said with a smile. “That didn’t scare me away, though. She came back, and we tried again.” Michele was adamant that all kids who came through her doors were her babies, and she loved them as much as she could.
Michele was inspired to become a foster parent by a coworker at Cleveland Job Corps who was certified through Pressley Ridge. “I loved my job and working with people and the kids. I figured if I was able to raise Kelli and Veronica, I could do anything. It was in my heart this entire time that I could do it; I already had such great connections with the children at Cleveland Job Corps.”
Michele has been fostering with Pressley Ridge since 2015 and has fond memories of the more than 20 kids she has welcomed into her home.
“I have a few kids that come over, sit on my porch, talk about what happened when they were in the home, and we just giggle and laugh. They know they can ask for anything.”
Those visits, phone calls and shared meals are the moments that remind Michele why she opened her home in the first place. For her, fostering was never about “temporary care” but about creating a sense of belonging – no matter how long a child stayed. Even after placements ended, Michele made it clear that her door, and her heart, never closed.
Veronica and Kelli both credit their mother for teaching them compassion, patience and resilience. Watching Michele foster shaped how they see family – not as something limited by blood but expanded by love. Veronica and Michele were able to work together and lean on one another when things got tough.
Over the years, Michele learned that foster care comes with heartbreak just as much as joy. Children often leave unexpectedly; some reunify with their family, others move on to new placements. But Michele believes that even a short stay can have a lasting impact.
Most people are surprised to learn that Michele prefers to foster teenagers. She understands the great need for homes willing to open their doors to teens. And no one understands the impact of her choice more than her daughter, Veronica, who has seen firsthand just how much her mom’s love and commitment matter.
“She is a foster parent who understands what these teenagers are going through, what they need, how you can help them thrive,” Veronica shared. “A lot of people just want easy kids, but what they don’t understand is we are dealing with children who experience trauma. There is no such thing as an easy kid.”
Veronica also offered this advice for anyone considering fostering: “You haven’t raised these kids, so they are not going to be like you. They’re not going to act like you or have the same values as you. You’re going to have to take the time to invest in these children. If that’s not something you’re willing to do, then you don’t need to foster. I witnessed my mom invest in these children and take the time with these children. She is amazing.”
Her story is a reminder that foster parents are more than caregivers. They are mentors, safe places, and often the first sense of stability a child experiences. Michele stepped into foster care not because it was easy but because it was needed. She continues to encourage others who feel that same pull to trust their hearts. “If you’re thinking about it,” she said, “that’s probably your sign.”
Today, after twelve years, Michele continues to foster with Pressley Ridge. Through her unwavering commitment, she has changed the lives of more than twenty children, and those children, in turn, have changed her. In a world where the need for foster care remains great, Michele stands as proof that one home, one person, and one open heart can make all the difference.