Judy’s Journey: 34 Years of Dedication and Love to Foster Children in Milwaukee County

34 years of service.

60 foster children.

1 dedicated family.

Judy DeVries says becoming a foster parent was something she ‘felt God put on her heart.’

“All I wanted to do was be a safe place for kids,” she said.

So, in 1991, Judy and her husband Jim became licensed to foster and never looked back.

“We got our first call in April of that year, and it was for twins,” said DeVries. “I got scared and I actually said no. I just felt like I couldn’t take in two babies, especially since I had three of my own ­— ages 9, 12 and 14. The next call we got was for my son JJ, who we ended up adopting three years later. I believe very firmly that God had us stay empty so that we’d be available when JJ was born. Adopting was never my plan, but he is truly a gift.”

Now a family of six, the DeVries’ would continue to be a safe place for 59 more foster children over the next three decades.

“All they needed was somebody to step in and tell them, ‘You’re valuable, you’re loved and you’re wanted.’”

“My favorite thing about the DeVries’ is that they loved their foster children as if they were their own, whether they were in the home for two months or two years,” said Marande Buck, Wellpoint Care Network Licensing Supervisor. “Ms. DeVries would often cry when the children left her home. I remember her saying that she cried because she loved them. She stated that if she didn’t cry when they left, then she didn’t give them her all.”

One thing Judy always kept top of mind was that reunification, if safe and possible, was always the goal. 

“Children are meant to be with their parents,” added DeVries. “I would tell the birth parents that my role was just to keep them safe until they could return home. I would try to be there for the birth parents as much as possible and provide them with resources. As a foster parent, you advocate for the child as best as you can, and part of that might be advocating for birth parents too.”

Because of those strong relationships, the DeVries’ would often keep in touch with their foster children and their families.

“One little girl that went back to her dad, he asked Jim and I to be her godparents. Another little boy we fostered is now 26 and I babysit his daughter occasionally.”

In fact, when Judy’s husband Jim passed in April of 2023, several of those 60 foster children attended his funeral.

“It was a great feeling to look around and see that,” said DeVries.

After Jim’s passing, Judy knew it was the right time for this lifelong, fulfilling journey to come to an end. She credits being able to sustain this 34-year lifestyle to a great support system and ongoing training and resources.

“The more you can learn, the better you are equipped to deal with things when they come up,” said DeVries. “From how to work with birth parents to how the court system works and anything in between. Trauma Informed Care training is especially important because many of these kids are off to a rough start. They’ve seen things you maybe haven’t had to deal with before, but you need to help them through it. These kids are our future.”

Now officially entering ‘retirement,’ DeVries says she wouldn’t change a thing.

“It was the best thing we could ever do,” she adds. “I always felt I got more out of it than those kids did; they loved me unconditionally. It’s a lot of work, but the blessings go beyond the heartaches.”

“This family fostered for many, many years and impacted the lives of so many children in our community,” said Buck. “They were always welcoming and flexible, a true example of what foster parents should be.”

Are you interested in becoming a foster parent? You don’t have to be perfect or have the perfect home, you just have to be like Judy and have a desire to be a safe place! Take the first step and attend an informational session. You never know, it could end in a 34-year journey filled with memories of love.