JOSH DOOLEY
Tenille Rauls received a newborn from the hospital, who she fell in love with. The grandparents took the baby, but that’s OK because they send her pictures. And she has the privilege to pray for him.
Tenille Rauls heeds The Call
BILLY JEAN LOUIS
BLOUIS@BAXTERBULLETIN.COM
In January of 2012, a 4-year-old girl came to the Knox Orthopaedics in Mountain Home with a broken arm. Tenille Rauls recalled her husband, Russ, called the authorities to investigate.
Her heart broke.
During follow-ups, as a nurse, Tenille realized the girl wasn’t being taken care of properly. That’s when she dialed the numbers to the Department of Children and Family Services and found out there weren’t enough foster homes in the area.
She took that information to Russ who told her, “Let’s become one.” The couple became foster parents at that point, but Tenille envisioned more than that. She had heard of the Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime (CALL), a nonprofit.
Tenille picked up the phone again.
This time, it was a call to the CALL state office, however. She asked a representative, “Does Baxter County have a CALL?” The answer was no. “Well, how do I start one?” Tenille responded.
The conversation happened in March.
In November 2012, the CALL was formed with the help of Amy Ponder, April Webb and Lonnie Robinson.
The nonprofit serves as liaison to DCFS by raising awareness, holding informational meetings to share the need to foster and adopt. Some of the process it helps with is background checks and application. Collected information is provided to DCFS. It denies or approves the parents.
It helps train parents for the 30-hour Parent Resource for Information, Development and Education training — which teaches parents how to take care of a child who was traumatized.
“We do their work for free because they are overwhelmed,” Tenille said.
The CALL, located at 117 N. College St., has a clothes closet that provides free items to foster and adoptive parents, which they said is their “favorite support service.” It’s like a mini mall. It has diapers, car toys and a bookshelf, which the Girl Scouts helped with.
22 Living Well i August/November 2016
Families get food and fruits, as well as a $50 gift card during date nights and provides monthly lunch. Everything is donated: fresh eggs, pizza, squash, hot dogs, etc.
Tenille, who serves as the county coordinator, said the process of getting the CALL wasn’t hard.
“We have been very blessed. This community has shown amazing support,” Tenille said. “It’s more than we can imagine.”
She added she doesn’t think everyone should adopt or foster a child because it’s not a simple decision, but a “calling.”
There have been more than 120 children fostered since June 2013. Tenille envisions there won’t be a waiting list for children — and more than enough foster and adopted homes.
Apassion for children
Born and raised in Glenwood, Ark., Tenille and Russ have three children: Lexi, 11, Lauren, 8 and Will, 7. She stands 5-foot-one-and-a-half with brunette hair. Speaking with a thick southern accent, Tenille smiles often.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36