Single woman gets her dream family

Find out how you can make a difference: Friend to Foster Kids

Treasure Island, Florida - The Treasure Island home of Cyndi Aker is filled with pictures from her world travels.

She's visited every continent and enjoyed some great adventures.

The pictures displayed on the walls show the incredible images she's captured with her camera over the years.

Now, in her home, Aker gets to live another adventure she thought would never develop for her.

This single, 44-year-old successful business woman is now a mom.

She explains, "I've been very career oriented and I really missed out on having children and the whole process, getting married and having kids. So, I decided to look at different alternatives."

One alternative was becoming a foster mom.

As a single woman, Aker assumed she wouldn't be able to foster or adopt. She was glad to learn she was wrong. She loves being a mom and says her only regret is that she didn't do it sooner.

Aker can afford a nanny and, so far, she has fostered ten children.

But she knows other single women may have financial reservations about fostering and adopting.

It's one reason she recommends calling Eckerd Community Alternatives. They are the lead agency for community-based child welfare in Pinellas and Pasco counties. They will provide foster families with the resources they need.

Aker has now adopted two little girls and hopes to expand her family even more. She is even looking for a bigger home.

So while she has travelled the world in search of one adventure after another, she has found her biggest adventure in her own home.

There are currently over 700 children who live in licensed foster homes in Pinellas and Pasco counties. There is always a need for more qualified families.

If you are interested in finding out how to become a foster parent, call the Foster Parent Recruitment line at 1-866-233-0790.