Deanna and David Featheroff were named a 2023 PCSAO Family of the Year.
The Featheroffs had prior experience as therapeutic foster parents and had previously adopted twin boys in another county. Since initial licensure in Perry County, they have fostered 31 children and adopted four. Dee and David also provide respite for the Family & Children First Council, giving biological and kinship families a much-needed break. They have a family legacy of foster care and adoption: Among them, Dee and her family members have adopted 17 children!
Dee and David are well known to all the caseworkers because they have come through for the agency on so many occasions. They have a history of taking hard-to-place children and rarely say no to an emergency placement or respite. Their service has been critical to keeping children safe and cared for so that they do not have to stay overnight in a government agency. They have seen many children come and go from their home over the years, and every single one of them has left their mark on the hearts of Dee and David.
The Featheroffs have proven time and again that they are parents who refuse to give up on a child, going above and beyond to provide for each and every one in their care. This dedication is not just a philosophy; it’s a lived reality. The Featheroffs have remained an anchor for children with a history of trauma and challenging behaviors.
In their daily interactions, David and Dee patiently guide behavior and impart essential life skills. They represent more than just caregivers, and their commitment extends beyond the walls of their home. The Featheroffs are the first to step forward and lend a helping hand to their foster children’s parents.
The world is in need of more families like the Featheroffs—families who embrace children with complex behaviors and needs, families who offer unconditional love and protection.