Justin Chase Ham entered the foster care system at the age of four. A young child with so many complex emotions, Justin had a difficult time working through the trauma he had experienced early on in life. This trauma manifested in how he interacted with others and how he viewed himself.
Nine years went by, and at the age of thirteen, Justin found himself in his fourth resource home due to “behaviors.” But Justin’s social worker, Jessi Strahan, saw a light in him that would not be extinguished. Jessi says it’s Justin’s “resilient spirit” that propelled him to make positive changes within himself, and the timing of his turn-around could not have been more perfect.
Jeremy and Shannon Ham had recently been approved as resource parents and wanted to take placement of younger children. However, they didn’t hesitate to take Justin in when he needed a temporary placement. At the time, Justin was being matched with a different family for adoption, but the longer he stayed with the Hams, the more he could sense this was where he was supposed to be.
The Hams fell in love with Justin, and when the other adoption match fell through, they expressed their desire to adopt him. Jeremy and Shannon recognized Justin’s gentle, nurturing soul and were patient with him as he worked through his own unique challenges. There were bumps along the way, but the Hams saw these as opportunities to grow and ultimately become closer as a family. Justin was officially adopted in July of 2020 and hasn’t stopped smiling since. The Hams continue to open their hearts and love unconditionally. Justin’s story is a shining example of the power of love, patience, and resilience.
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