PATRICIA RUSSELL

ACCOUNT MANAGER/ADOPTIVE FOSTER PARENT/AUTHOR

Patricia Russell holds many titles, but the most important is mother. Outside of her corporate responsibilities, her passions include writing and child welfare advocacy. Her interest in child welfare was born after welcoming her first child. Patricia is now a mother of two, Ezariah, 7 and Bella, 6. Both children came to her at birth, when each entered foster care and were eventually adopted. They are the reason she is compelled to educate others about the needs of children in foster care.  

Patricia’s life long dream was to be a mother. Her path eventually brought her to foster care. However, as a prospective single mother with regular business travel commitments, she found it difficult to find an agency that would certify her as a foster parent. That is, until fate intervened on a flight in November 2016. It was late at night and pushing the early hours of morning when she boarded a flight home. Next to her sat another weary traveler. The woman was soon affectionately dubbed her angel. Putting aside their exhaustion, pleasantries were exchanged and within minutes Patricia learned Jennifer’s affiliation with one of the child welfare agencies she reached out to with an interest in becoming a foster parent. With the connection made, Patricia shared her story: the struggle to become a mother, the search for an agency and her diminishing hope. By the end of their conversation, Jennifer was committed to helping Patricia realize her dream of becoming a mother. True to her word, Jennifer put Patricia in touch with the foster care team. Just 4 months later, she was certified and in August she opened her home to her first born. Her son, Ezariah, entered foster care at birth and was adopted shortly before his second birthday, but not before Patricia welcomed her daughter, Bella, in her heart and home. Bella also entered foster care as a newborn and celebrated her adoption three years later, completing the Russell party of three.  

Today, the Russell trio can be found travelling the country on one of their many excursions. Outside of her corporate and maternal responsibilities, Patricia enjoys writing, travelling and taking on new adventures. Patricia also serves on the Board of Directors for Together For Youth, the agency who certified her as a foster parent She is an avid child welfare advocate, sharing her experiences with foster care and adoption with others.

Patricia recently paired her love of writing and her commitment to child welfare advocacy by writing and publishing the book, Foster To Friends, a heartwarming story of one child’s journey through foster care. Her book offers a unique perspective- narrated by 5 year-old Ezekial, who urges the reader to consider the feelings and experiences a child in foster care will face. The book teaches valuable lessons in inclusion and acceptance while removing the stigma of foster care. The book encourages dialogue between children and adults of all ages and serves as an excellent resource for all.