Published: May 10, 2008 12:07 am            

PEOPLE PROFILE: Jody Naughton, foster mom, honored by county

PENDLETON — Jody Naughton is the mother of four, stepmother of four, adoptive mother of one and has been the foster mother of 14.

With those numbers, it was no wonder why Jody and Curtis Naughton of Pendleton were named Foster Parents of the Year by the Niagara County Department of Social Services this week.

She’ll have a lot to celebrate this Mother’s Day.

Jody’s biological children are John, Rebecca, Laura and Jeffrey Jenson. She is the stepmother of Dan, David, Laurie and Trina Naughton, who are grown and have left the nest.

“My own kids help with the foster kids,” Jody said. “They are a big part of foster care.”

Jody and Curtis recently adopted Clay Naughton, 5, who has been in their foster care since birth.

“He is most beautiful,” mom said. “I think he’s just an amazing guy.”

The Naugtons, who moved to a new house on Lockport Road three years ago, also care for a foster baby who is 10 months old. Foster dad operates Curt’s Lawn Service.

The Naughtons had their first foster placement in 2001. “I’ve had foster children come in an out of the home since then,” Jody said.

The youngest have been newborn. The oldest was a boy 16 who only lived with the family for a weekend.

“It’s crazy, but it’s a good crazy,” said Jody, 44. “It’s really hard when you’ve had a child from 2-month-olds to 2 years old, and they leave. Your heart is broken, just so broken. They’re a part of your family, a part your life. Every child that has come into my home, I treat them exactly as if they were my biological child. When they leave, you cannot not feel.”

Up until a month ago, Jody worked per diem as a registered nurse.

“I just want to devote everything to foster care,” she said. “I gave up my career for a while because I’m too busy with the kids.”

Some placements are for a year; sometimes, children arrive in the middle of the night and leave the next day.

“It’s also very rewarding because a lot of these kids have special needs,” Jody said. “You play a big part in helping them make progress.”

        

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