Home / Award-Winning Main Line  / Women of Influence Awards  / Katie Casey: Nurturing Hope Through Foster Care and Community Support

Katie Casey: Nurturing Hope Through Foster Care and Community Support

Katie Casey, Co-Founder and Director of Communications of Well Rooted, has transformed her passion into a powerful force for change.

Katie Casey, Co-Founder and Director of Communications of Well Rooted, has transformed her personal experiences and passion for helping others into a powerful force for change in her community.

“I became a foster parent 7 years ago and my eyes were opened to the impact of not having supportive people to guide you, positive role models to inspire you or a community to embrace you,” Casey reflects. This realization became the catalyst for her life’s mission.


Celebrating exceptional local women making significant impacts in our community.

Our 2024 Women of Influence Award Winners were nominated by peers and selected by the Family Focus Media team based on their achievements and dedication to creating positive change, as revealed through comprehensive questionnaires. Their profiles showcase their inspiring journeys and accomplishments.

Beyond the awards, our Women of Influence Luncheons and Speed Networking Night attendees form our growing “Women of Influence Network,” a community fostering connections, collaboration, and mutual support. We invite you to explore our Award Winners’ stories and leverage our Network Directory in the Women of Influence Guide. Reach out to fellow members to harness the power of our network through shared growth and support. For further engagement, we welcome business and nonprofit leaders to join our Family Focus Media Community Builders Group on Facebook and our NEW Women of Influence LinkedIn Group.


Nominated by Joy Zernhelt, Friend

“Katie Casey is a foster mom who has provided a safe place for countless children in the time that I’ve known her. She also provides support and encouragement to other foster parents (like myself) who had no clue where to start or how to navigate life as a foster parent.

Katie showed up with groceries, clothes and necessities the day we received our first unexpected foster care infant placement. And for the years following, she was always just a call or text away to offer care, support and advice on navigating the complex foster system.

Now, through Well Rooted, she is providing this kind support in a more broad and comprehensive way, throughout our community to foster youth, aging out of the foster system, families taking on kinship placements, parents working to reunify, and the list goes on.”

Nominated by Sarah Todd, Friend & Business Partner

“Katie is an exceptional person who would never let you say that about her. Through the fostering experience she was able to pinpoint some gaps in the system and co-created Well Rooted; an organization that supports foster families and young adults aging out of the foster system.”

Well Rooted: A Vision of Support and Empowerment

Driven by her experiences and the gaps she observed in the foster care system, Casey co-founded Well Rooted, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting those impacted by the foster system. “We believe that ALL people need and deserve the support of others,” Casey emphasizes.

Well Rooted’s mission is multifaceted, focusing on young adults aging out of the foster system, families taking on kinship placements, and parents working towards reunification. The organization provides a range of services, from immediate needs assistance to long-term mentoring and community building.

“We welcome young adults, who have aged out of the foster system and who have little to no support system, into our community,” Casey explains. “We listen to their stories, acknowledge all of the really hard parts of those stories and offer to join them in their next chapter.”

The Power of Mentorship and Community

Casey’s approach to mentorship is both practical and deeply empathetic. She uses the analogy of learning to drive a car to illustrate the importance of support: “If you need to get somewhere but have no one to teach you to drive, you will teach yourself. You will learn eventually, but while practicing on your own you will likely crash frequently, you might hurt yourself or others and your car will be damaged.”

This philosophy has led to tangible successes. Casey shares a story of helping a young adult obtain their driver’s license and secure a job, demonstrating how targeted support can open up new opportunities and change lives.

A Life of Service Beyond the Organization

Casey’s commitment to giving back is also multifaceted. As nominator Sarah Todd notes, “Even with 6 kids at home and a very busy schedule, she is always able to make time for her friends and family.”

In addition to fostering 17 children over the past seven years, adopting one, and providing ongoing support to another after reunification, Casey also works as an Occupational Therapist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Her work there includes supporting the foster clinic, further demonstrating her dedication to this community.

“She puts EVERYONE above herself,” Todd emphasizes, highlighting Casey’s selfless nature and humility.

A Ripple Effect of Influence

Casey’s influence extends beyond those she directly helps. Nominator Joy Zernhelt credits her with inspiring others to become foster parents: “If it weren’t for Katie, I would never have considered becoming a foster parent. To me and so many other vulnerable children and families, her influence has had a life-long impact.”

This sentiment is echoed by Sarah Todd. “Katie and her husband (and their now 6 kids) influenced our family to start fostering,” she shares.

Living with Eyes Wide Open

For Casey, giving back is not just about grand gestures or organized efforts. It’s about living life with awareness and readiness to help. “I want my whole life to reflect my values and passions, not simply reserving them for specific times or opportunities,” she says. “I want to live with my eyes wide open to the world around me and the people in it.”

This philosophy drives her to see and respond to needs in even the most mundane situations, creating a life that continually gives back to the community.

A Legacy of Compassion and Action

Katie Casey’s journey from foster parent to community leader exemplifies the profound impact one person can have when they commit to addressing the needs they see around them. Through Well Rooted and her personal dedication to fostering and supporting others, Casey has created a legacy of compassion, action, and hope.

As her community continues to benefit from her tireless efforts, Casey remains focused on her mission to ensure that no one in the foster care system feels unsupported or alone. Her work serves as an inspiration and a call to action for others to open their eyes, hearts, and homes to those in need of support and community.

Main Line Parent Contributing Writer. Learn more about Jen at jenwarnerwrites.com.

NO COMMENTS

POST A COMMENT