The experiences of fostering and adopting children can be both challenging and rewarding. They're experiences that COBYS can both enhance and make more manageable.

Louis and Melissa Zoeller have been married 16 years, and they are the parents of seven kids, two of whom are their biological offspring and five of whom they adopted through the help of COBYS Family Services. For the Zoellers, who have affectionately dubbed their family "The Zoeller Bunch," it's sometimes a hectic, topsy-turvy existence, but one that they have no regrets about.

"If there was one thing that brought (Melissa and me) together, it was that we felt God was calling us to adopt," said Louis. "It was the one thing we could agree upon. When we got involved with COBYS, it helped that they were a faith-based organization. When they asked us if we wanted to adopt, we prayed on it and said yes."

In addition to Louis and Melissa, the Mountville-based Zoeller Bunch includes Coral, 15; Dominic, 14; Sophie, 8; Izabel, 6; Tatum, 6; Oaklee, 5; and Carson, 4. Sophie, Tatum, Izabel, Oaklee and Carson were all under the Zoellers' foster care first before being officially adopted at various times over the last six years.

Before they were legally adopted, the children were wards of the state, meaning they could've been removed from the Zoeller household at any time.

"Foster care exists to give biological families an opportunity to get safe," said Melissa. "Foster care exists to provide safety for children. Kids need to be safe. If (biological) parents can't meet those safety standards, the goal changes from re-unification to adoption. Adoption only happens when kids can't re-unify safely. The primary goal is always working with the (biological) family. There's no question that the biological families love them."

"For us, we truly never knew if we were going to adopt until the decision was kind of made for us," said Louis. "The courts decide which way the case is going to go. You know that any day (the children) could be out of your home."

Before they became foster parents, Melissa and Louis received specific training from COBYS Family Services. During and after the foster care and adoption processes, the Zoellers have been afforded support opportunities that include regular visits from COBYS representatives, advice, encouragement, financial assistance and 24-hour access to a counselor.

"(COBYS) is there to facilitate and support foster families," said Louis. "If we have questions, we go to them. We had a county caseworker and a COBYS caseworker. (COBYS) was basically our main contact. Overall, COBYS is there for you."

According to COBYS Family Services, approximately 15,000 children are currently in the Pennsylvania child welfare system. They are unable to live with their biological families because of abuse, neglect or behavioral issues.

"For us, (adoption) really wasn't a question," said Melissa, "because you get to know the kids. We already knew them; they already knew us. There's no reason for it not to be forever."

For additional information about COBYS Family Services, go to http://www.cobys.org.