An elderly Ohio couple is receiving their flowers after they spent decades caring for more than 100 foster daughters.
Ann and Al Hill started their life together 53 years ago after they met as sophomores in high school. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the couple raised two daughters together, and after their girls went to college, they decided to continue their parenting journey with foster daughters. The couple were foster parents for almost 30 years and took in girls until last year. They admittedly ran a tight ship.
Al told The Enquirer his wife would make their foster children brush their teeth again if they didn’t do it correctly the first time. Ann, a woman a few words, had a simple description of their parenting style.
“We were a team,” Ann said. “That’s how we did it.”
Even though the Hills aren’t fostering anymore, they still maintain connections to some of their bonus daughters through calls and holiday visits.
May is National Foster Care Month, and President Joe Biden marked the occasion with a proclamation on April 30. In the document, the president promised to roll out federal programming under the Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act.
“This law provides additional flexibility and support for youth aging out of foster care and allows them to access critical services to help them stay in school or participate in a job training program, pay the bills, and better make the difficult transition to adulthood” the proclamation stated.
According to figures from the Federal Children’s Bureau, Black children make up 13 percent of the United States’ minor population but account for 23 percent of the foster care population.
Studies done in Texas determined that Black families were more likely to have cases substantiated, their children removed from their homes, and family safety intervention even though they had lower risk scores than white families.
In other words, the Hills are living proof that all heroes don’t wear capes.
