Sarah Michaels, a native of La Grange, Illinois, began her journey as a foster parent at age 23 after working as a nurse at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Witnessing children remain in hospital beds due to a lack of safe homes, she felt compelled to help fill this gap. Over nearly a decade, she has fostered more than 50 children, often taking in four to six at a time, primarily teenagers facing complex mental health and behavioral challenges. Michaels has adopted two children when reunification was not feasible, demonstrating her long-term commitment to fostering. A graduate of Anderson University and an alum of the Orr Fellowship, she now serves as the chief clinical officer at Kinetiq Health. Michaels recently spoke at the New York Stock Exchange, reflecting on her unexpected career path from clinical work to leadership. As National Foster Care Day approaches on May 5, she hopes to inspire others to consider fostering, particularly older youth, who she believes can thrive with the right support.