Foster Family Spotlight: Meet the Coneys
For National Foster Care Month, Project Belong wants to say thank you to our local foster families in the Northern region of Virginia.
The work of foster families is important.
By providing a safe, loving home to children in need, foster families give struggling families a chance to work out the difficulties preventing them from being able to meet their children’s needs. Every child deserves safe and stable place to land. Families like the Coneys have done just that, having had over 10 placements in their home. For some who were unable to reunify, they were welcomed into the Coney family forever through adoption.
What inspired you to become foster parents?
I was a youth in foster care and always wanted to be there for kids in care because I understood. I followed what God called me to do. Joe and I have fostered for 5 years, but my family has been fostering for over 70 years! My heart is filled with love and patience for children that are in need of it. I want every child to have a home.
- Alayzia
We help kids every day in our field of work and it’s only right to provide a safe haven for kids that have experienced trauma and deserve a forever home.
- Joe
How has fostering changed you and your family?
It has been a blessing. Our extended family has adapted to our new way of life in a good way! Our birth children have been so accepting of more siblings and spread so much love to each child that comes through our door. Most of all our family has grown and we can’t see our life any other way.
What resources or support systems have been most valuable to you in your fostering journey?
Our local church has been a huge support system. Also our own family has been a support system. Some families don’t support fostering but ours do. They accept our kids no matter how long we have them. We get unconditional love from our church and family. Our case worker has also been an important support with helping find therapy, child care, medical equipment, etc.
What would you say to someone considering becoming a foster parent?
There will be challenges no doubt but the reward is that smile on a child’s face knowing they have a home - whether it’s temporary or forever - where they are loved, safe, and can be a child. Open your heart, home, and mind. Have a lot of patience and love. Find a support system and never go through this alone.
Thank you to the Coneys for allowing us to share your story! In fact, Alayzia and Joe were Loudoun county’s Foster Parents of the Year in 2024. Learn more about their incredible fostering journey by watching the video below.