Isakson family are Angels in Adoption

The Isakson family of Hill City have a big heart and strong passion for fostering and adoption, which is evident through their growing family’s story.

For Jackie Isakson, fostering children had been her dream long before she met her husband, Marcus.

“It had been on my heart. I wanted to do that some day,” said Jackie. 

From the very beginning of their relationship, Jackie was upfront about her calling.

“She was like, just so you know, foster care and adoption is going to be in our future,” Marcus admitted, making Jackie laugh.

As it often does, life got busy, and their plans were put on hold while they focused on raising their four biological children. 

“We started having babies, and then we got busy,” said Jackie. “Then COVID happened.”

During the pandemic, the sudden pause in everyday activities gave the family time to reflect.

“Everybody went home, and it was kind of like a season of analyzing,” Jackie said. “What do we want life to look like?”

During that pause, the Isaksons revisited the idea of foster care.

Around the same time, Marcus, who works in law enforcement, began witnessing first-hand the realities faced by children in the foster care system. One of his earliest calls involved removing children from an unsafe home and having them placed in foster care. Later, he and his partner were invited to attend the adoption of those same children. Seeing the process come full circle inspired Marcus.  

“I had to come and see this loving family accept these kids into their home,” said Marcus. “This is an amazing story.”

Marcus recalled coming home and telling Jackie, “We have to start doing this. We have to start doing this now,” he said. “This is a need, and it can be beautiful.”

With many resources moving online, the couple was able to complete the necessary certifications and training to begin fostering.

“As COVID ended and people came back out into society, tons of kids went into foster care,” said Jackie. 

Since then, they have fostered several children. The couple believes strongly in working alongside biological parents in the hopes of reunification for the children. 

“Both of us really bought into this idea of coming alongside families who are addicted or struggling and loving them and loving their kids,” said Jackie. “We like to build relationships with the parents.”

“The way Jackie talks to the birth parents is amazing. She was built for this,” said Marcus. 

Their first two foster placements were successfully reunified with their biological families.

The couple tries to relay a positive message to struggling parents: “We’re going to keep your kids safe and try to have as much communication with you as possible, and we’re advocating for you,” said Marcus. 

One of their most recent placements involved four siblings who lived with the Isaksons for a year as they worked with the biological mother toward reunification. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and the children’s mother passed away before that happened, leaving the children with nowhere to go.

“That’s when foster care switched for us,” said Jackie. 

The children’s mother had previously shared her wish with the Department of Social Services that, if she could not regain custody, she’d like her children to remain with the Isaksons. So, they adopted them and welcomed them into their family for good.

“These kids we adopted, they’re in the process of healing, and so they’re becoming more and more just regular kids,” said Jackie.

With full hearts and a full house, the Isaksons continue to foster, housing two more children since February and taking respite or emergency placements—providing temporary, short-term care for other foster children. 

“It’s not so much just Marcus and me,” said Jackie. “This is a whole family ministry. All of us love it.”

“We’re able to do what we do because we have all these kids that like being part of it. We just keep getting to build more beds.”

Marcus sees the impact that fostering has had on their own biological kids.

“I think we’ve seen a difference in our own kids,” said Marcus. “I think it keeps my kids humble.”

“If you hear a little kid’s story, you’re going to have compassion. It’s pretty natural once you’re trained and you’re certified,” said Jackie. “When someone calls and says there’s this kid, this is their situation, it’s pretty hard for us to say no.”

This year, Marcus and Jackie were selected by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute as South Dakota’s Angels in Adoption honorees for their commitment to improving the lives of children in need of permanent, loving homes. 

In July, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson congratulated the couple, saying, “It’s evident the Isaksons have a big heart for fostering and adoption, providing a loving home for kids who need one. Adoption is a truly selfless decision and a meaningful way to continue growing a family. I’m proud to highlight the Isaksons’ story as this year’s Angels in Adoption honorees.”

The Isaksons credit much of their success to the support of their church and community.

“We’ve been blessed because we are surrounded by a community that’s kind of said, ‘We can all do this,’” said Jackie. 

The family’s faith is a big part of their foster care journey.

“In the Bible, if you’re not Jewish, if you’re not part of the nation of Israel, you’re adopted into the family of God. And that hit me hard in college,” said Marcus. “I see that too with our kids, as they’re adopted into the Isakson family. You started something different, but now you’re part of a family that’s got grandparents and got history and stories and all the blessings that we received from our parents and grandparents,” he said. “Now we instill those blessings onto our adopted kids. I think there’s a bigger picture.”

The couple encourages other families to consider fostering.

“It’s not that hard to just make the call,” said Jackie, “and go through the process of getting certified. There’s so many kids sitting in the office regularly in Rapid City that even just taking emergency placements for five days while they get families certified so kids can go back to kinship relationships. There’s a huge need in Western South Dakota for new foster families right now.”

“I would say do it,” encouraged Jackie. 

“Climbing Mount Everest, it’s not easy. It’s one of the most difficult things you can possibly do, but rewarding,” said Marcus. “That’s foster care. Super difficult but super rewarding.”