La Grange Native Fosters More Than 50 Children Since Her 20s

LA GRANGE, IL – For La Grange native Sarah Michaels, fostering children began with what she saw while working as a nurse at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, according to a news release.

Michaels, an Orr Fellowship alum from the class of 2015, started fostering at age 23. That was after seeing that some children stayed in hospital beds not because they still needed medical care, but because they did not have a safe place to go.

"I realized there was a gap I could help fill," Michaels said in the news release from the Orr Fellowship. "Some of these kids just needed a safe place to land, even if it was at a moment's notice."

What started as short-term placements became a long-term commitment. Nearly a decade later, Michaels has cared for more than 50 foster children, often welcoming four to six at a time. The children have primarily been teenagers facing complex mental health and behavioral challenges.

"I thought it would be a few days or a few weeks," she said. "Then it becomes years, and you realize this is your life."

Over the years, Michaels has fostered children ranging from newborns to teenagers. In one instance, she brought home a 3-day-old infant with only hours' notice. She adopted two children when reunification was not possible.

Michaels is a graduate of Anderson University and built her career in Indianapolis after being selected for Orr Fellowship, an early career development program for versatile high-achievers and future-focused businesses in Indianapolis and Evansville. She now serves as chief clinical officer at Kinetiq Health.

"I never took a business class," Michaels said in the news release. "Orr Fellowship gave me the foundation and confidence to step into leadership in a way I never imagined."

Michaels recently spoke at the New York Stock Exchange as part of an investor event. She said the experience reflected how far her career had grown from her clinical background.

"It's surreal," she said. "To go from a clinical background to standing at the Stock Exchange, it's something I never would have imagined."

Michaels said foster care has also shaped the way she leads.

"When you experience foster care, you understand what a real crisis looks like," she said. "It gives you perspective and teaches you how to stay calm under pressure."

As National Foster Care Day approaches on May 5, Michaels said she hopes her story encourages others to consider fostering, especially older youth, according to the news release.

"Teenagers are the hardest to place, but they're incredibly resilient," she said. "With the right support, you can completely change the trajectory of their lives."