When Nathan and Kayla Buchanan talk about their decision to open their home to children in need, they point to a core set of values that guided them long before they received their first official placement.
For Kayla Buchanan, children were a non-negotiable part of her future, no matter if they were biologically hers or not. When she met Nathan Buchanan, she made it clear that she wanted a family that included children who were not biologically theirs. Nathan Buchanan was immediately open to the idea, having grown up watching his own parents foster children.
“James 1:27 has been a verse for us, probably for many who serve in foster care, that pure and undefiled religion is taking care of widows and orphans,” Nathan Buchanan said. “Every Christian is called to help, not called to open up their homes and take care of kids, but they are called to help, whether that’s providing food or wraparound care.”
After having three biological daughters, the couple initially explored private adoption. During that time, while Nathan Buchanan was serving as a pastor, local agency representatives shared a statistic that shifted their focus directly to their own backyard, their county had 100 youth in state care, but only three licensed foster homes in the entire area.
Determined to address the local need, Nathan Buchanan worked with area churches to host community interest meetings, and while nearly 90 people attended, very few were able to commit to the rigorous training process at the time.
The Buchanans started training, balancing the hours around their daughters’ school and sports schedules.
Their entry into care came unexpectedly as a local family the Buchanans knew previously faced the removal of a newborn child from the hospital. With no local foster homes available, the baby was set to be placed far from the community, making reunification visits nearly impossible for the parents.
The court approved the Buchanans as a fictive kin placement.
“Because of what we were trying to accomplish and do, the judge placed him in our care,” Nathan Buchanan said.
Over the years, they worked alongside regional initiatives, including early test pilot programs for Community Based Care, and eventually aligned with Arrow Child and Family Ministries to continue their work.
Since then, the Buchanan home has welcomed 18 placements, ranging from temporary stays lasting a week to long-term placements extending more than two years, as well as the adoption of their son.
Kayla Buchanan notes that one of the most important lessons they learned along the way was the necessity of understanding their own family’s identity and boundaries before accepting a placement.
“Figure out who you are as a family,” Kayla Buchanan said. “You need to figure out what your identity is and try to figure out what your limitations are. For us, we wanted placements younger than our biological daughters. It’s also important to ask lots of questions.”
That philosophy moved them to extend discussions about potential placements with their three daughters, making it a family decision.
“It’s not just a mom and dad decision, it’s a family decision, and we’re not going to bring this child unless we’re all in that conversation,” Nathan Buchanan said.
The decade spent fostering has left a clear mark on the entire Buchanan household. The couple’s youngest daughter, Olivia, is now pursuing a college degree in social work with a focus on behavioral health for children, a career choice directly inspired by her experience growing up in a foster home. Their eldest daughter ensured her husband was open to supporting or taking in younger siblings if ever needed, framing adoption and care as a lifelong family commitment.
Through every placement, the Buchanans remain focused on providing stability and care for as long as a child is under their roof.
“We always look at it as trying to point them to Jesus, show them that there is somebody who cares for them and do whatever we can,” Kayla Buchanan said. “Sometimes what’s best for them is going back to their families. Sometimes what’s best for them is staying with us or going to another family. We just want to love on them the best we can while we have them.”
You can learn more about Arrow’s services here.