Meet the Kearney Family

I am Erin Kearney!

I have always loved kids and knew that I wanted to be a parent someday.

I decided to open my heart and home to foster care, and in 2009 I welcomed two children into my home. The plan was reunification, but unfortunately, over time it was determined that wasn’t possible, and I adopted my oldest children in 2010.

Over the years I continued to feel called to fostering.

In 2021 I had the joy of welcoming a newborn into my home through a Prison Ministry. While reunification was the original plan, this never became an option and in April 2024 the adoption of Baylea was finalized.

Honestly, the life plan I imagined never involved adoption, but I know that God was in control of every situation, and it was in His plan. He created the way with His grace and perfect timing, and I simply said yes.

I fully believe that His plan also included Dwell in my journey.

I had made connections to Dwell prior to Baylea being placed with me, and Dwell provided a care package soon after she arrived home.

Dwell continued to be an emotional support the entire journey, through conversations and postcards with words of constant encouragement and scripture.

The Dwell grant was an incredible blessing.

As a single mother, finances are always very tight. Expenses were all out of my pocket since Baylea was placed with me as a newborn, including all her care and custody/adoption related fees.

Adopting as a single parent from a Prison Ministry created a few barriers in applying or qualifying for other resources or grants. Dwell allowed an opportunity to share my unique story and situation.

Being a Dwell grant recipient allowed for financial burdens and stresses to be eliminated so that I could truly focus on what was most important- God and the blessings He provided through adoption.