Latest News
Organization builds Catholic culture of fostering, adoption in Columbus
Dr. Kimberly Henkel shares with the Catholic Times of Columbus about Springs of Love’s efforts in the area, including the work of local chapters, the endorsement of Bishop Fernandes, and the Family Mass & Picnic event happening in July. May 2026.
Springs of Love Receives Award in Inaugural Foster Care Innovation Challenge
Flourish Fund, in collaboration with Eagle Venture Fund and with support from Google.org and the Aviv Foundation, announced Springs of Love as an award recipient of its Innovation Challenge, which is aimed at accelerating human-centered, innovative solutions in family preservation and foster care. May 2026.
Supporting the call for fostering and adopting: Springs of Love launches with picnic
Western Kentucky Catholic features an article about the Mass and Picnic for foster and adoptive families that was organized by our new chapter in the Diocese of Owensboro. “Sponsored by the diocese’s Office of Marriage and Family Life, families from across the diocese gathered Saturday, Sept. 27… It was a celebration honoring the beautiful and challenging work of fostering.” November 2025.
On Visitation Sessions: Changing the Church’s Conversation About Adoption
On the Feast of the Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, and in the middle of National Adoption Month, the hosts of Visitation Sessions bring their good friend Dr. Kimberly Henkel in to talk with them about the importance of changing the adoption conversation in the Catholic Church today. November 2025.
Kimberly on At Home with Jim and Joy
Dr. Kimberly Henkel joins EWTN’s At Home with Jim and Joy for two episodes, to discuss the Springs of Love ministry, fostering and adoption, Mother Cabrini Sunday, and our Building Belonging formation series. Check out Part 1 and Part 2, now available to stream. October 2025.
Choosing to Love, Even When It Breaks Your Heart
An article in the National Catholic Register discusses an area of the pro-life movement that needs more attention: birth mothers who choose adoption. Through interviews with Kate Stapleton and our own Kimberly Henkel, the article discusses the isolation many women feel when placing their children with adoptive families, and the ongoing support they may need from the Catholic community. August 2025.
Leaders in foster care, adoption look at post-Roe landscape for their ministries
Kimberly spoke with Our Sunday Visitor this month as they reported on the “post-Roe landscape” for foster and adoption ministries. May 2025.
EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, May 28, 2025
Kimberly joins EWTN’s Pro-Life Weekly to talk about the heartbreaking cycles within the foster care system—including the high rates of homelessness, addiction, and unplanned pregnancy among youth who age out without support. May 2025.
Foster care ministry leader calls on Catholics to open their homes to foster children
Catholic World Report reports on Kimberly Henkel’s “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly” interview with host Abi Galvan during National Foster Care Month. “A Catholic foster care ministry leader is calling for Catholic families to support vulnerable children and families by becoming foster parents.” May 2025.
Dr. Henkel Named Catholic of the Year
Dr. Kimberly Henkel was named one of OSV News’ 10 Catholics of the Year, alongside Cardinal Seán O’Malley, legendary actor Bob Newhart, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, and others. She was selected for her work in raising awareness of foster care as a pro-life issue. December 2024.
Be More Pro-Life: Webinar on Sound of Hope & Community Action
Kimberly Henkel (founder, Springs of Love), Rebekah Weigel (writer and producer of the movie Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot), and Julia Roberts (manager of Hope House ministries) join National Review Institute’s Kathryn Jean Lopez to discuss what works, what is necessary, and what is possible when foster care and faith intersect. November 2024.
Media Appearances
Voice of John Radio
Kimberly joined Maryann Lawhon to discuss the Springs of Love ministry. Maryann highlighted some of the great resources on our website, and they discussed how important it is for loving, Catholic families to get involved with fostering and adopting. Listen now. August 2024.
No Child Forgotten: The Possum Trot Challenge of Love and Radical Hospitality
The new movie, “The Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot,” highlights the challenging, inspirational story of a church in Possum Trot, Texas. Led by the pastor and his wife, they accomplished the Gospel goal of making sure no children were left languishing in the child-welfare system in their community. Rebekah Weigel (writer and producer, “The Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot”), Lisa Wheeler (president, Carmel Communications), and Kimberly Henkel (founder, Springs of Love) join the National Review Institute’s Kathryn Jean Lopez in conversation about the movie’s rally cry for forgotten children. June 2024.
Family Sanctuary
Joe and Stephanie Baird (featured in a Springs of Love original video) discuss “God’s Calling to Foster and Adopt” with host Peggy Hartshorn. April 2024.
Letters to Women Podcast
Kimberly joined Chloe Langr on her podcast to talk about adoption and fostering: the difference between foster care and adoption, some common myths, discernment, and more. Check out the episode, “A Letter to the Mother Wondering about Foster Care and Adoption.” March 2024.
Walk for Life West Coast 2024 – Kimberly Henkel
Springs of Love founder Dr. Kimberly Henkel speaks ahead of the Walk for Life West Coast, San Francisco’s largest pro-life event. Kimberly joins the event on January 20, 2024, to share her own story of fostering and adopting her four children. She encourages us all to say “yes!” to God’s call for us to support foster and adoptive families. January 2024.
The Beauty of Adoption – Straight Talk on Life Issues
Brad and Victor of “Straight Talk on Life Issues” are joined by adoptive parents Greg and Kimberly Henkel, as well as Kate Stapleton, a birth mother who placed her child into the loving arms of another family through adoption. Together the guests share their moving stories and give an invaluable insight into adoption from both perspectives. October 2023.
Catholic Answers Live: November 3, 2023
Dr. Kimberly Henkel joins host Cy Kellett to discuss National Adoption Month, and answer live questions from around the country on adoption and foster care. November 2023.
No Child Left Behind: The Urgency of a Post-Dobbs Response to the Foster-Care Crisis
Nearly a year after the Supreme Court ended Roe v. Wade, there are still some 400,000 children in the foster-care system in the United States. How are pro-life Americans going to take the lead to make sure all these children are in permanent, loving homes? Join Kimberly Henkel and Tori Hope Petersen in a National Foster-Care Month conversation with National Review Institute‘s Kathryn Jean Lopez about mobilizing a necessary plan for these children. June 2023.
Catholic Answers Live
Dr. Kimberly Henkel talks with host Cy Kellett about the Springs of Love ministry during National Foster Care Month, and answers questions about foster care and adoption from callers around the country. May 2023.
Adoption: Wellspring of Love
Women of Grace visit with Kimberly Henkel, co-founder of Springs in the Desert, during Foster Care Awareness Month. Together, they discuss Springs of Love, the option to adopt, and the call to provide a home for children in foster care. May 2023.
New Jersey Catholic Conference: Town Square Video Series
In this video, Dr. Kimberly Henkel, founder of Springs of Love, discusses her special ministry, which is working to create communities of support to help cultivate a culture of foster care and adoption in our Catholic parishes. May 2023.
Making Room in the Inn: Opening Hearts and Homes to Foster and Adopt Children
Dr. Kimberly Henkel and fellow panelists make the case that a post-Roe society warrants a new vision of radical solidarity with children — especially those in the foster-care system and/or in need of adoption. Introduction by the Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann. Co-hosted by National Review Institute, The Archdiocese of Kansas City, Springs of Love, and USCCB Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth. December 2022.
Published Articles
Why Foster Care is a Pro-Life Issue
“I have nowhere to go tonight. Can you help me?” The voice on the other side of the phone sounded desperate. As I frantically googled places for her to stay, I felt powerless before the immensity of her needs and began to ponder how supporting foster care is a pro-life act.” Read the article by Dr. Kimberly Henkel from Wait No More. June 2024.
Radical solidarity through fostering kids, supporting families
Dr. Kimberly Henkel reflects on the meaning of “Radical Solidarity” in fostering: “I wondered about his birth mother who had just gone through nine months carrying him in her womb, and endured childbirth only to have her baby boy ripped from her arms and placed into mine. This woman who gave birth to the greatest joy of my life up to that point would return home with no baby. Yes, she had problems that made it unsafe for her to raise her child. But what would become of her?” (This article has appeared in publications around the U.S., including the The Evangelist in Albany, the Trenton Monitor, The Message of Southwestern Indiana, the Central Minnesota Catholic Magazine, and OSV News.) November 2023.
Fight Child Trafficking by Fostering
Dr. Kimberly Henkel discusses her reaction to the film, The Sound of Freedom: “Like many others, I looked forward to watching The Sound of Freedom to learn about the true story of children rescued from sex trafficking. Fifteen minutes into the film, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach.” Read the full article from the National Catholic Register. August 2023.
Foster parenting: an education in love
“May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. In the 23 counties of the Columbus diocese, 7,097 children are in foster care and 655 await adoption. These children desperately need loving foster families who will show them the love of God.” Read the rest of this article by Springs of Love’s own Dr. Kimberly Henkel, featured in the Catholic Times. May 2023.
Making room in the Inn: Fostering, adopting vulnerable children
Dr. Kimberly Henkel recently wrote an article for The Catholic Times. Download, print, or view the PDF (article starts on page 10). December 2022.
Springs of Love in the News
Springs of Love Takes 4 Wins from Catholic Media Association Awards
We are honored and grateful to have been chosen to receive four awards from the Catholic Media Association in 2024, including first place for best pro-life video and first place for best video series! We are grateful to see Catholics recognizing foster care & adoption as essential components of a pro-life ethic, as well as the need to better understand, honor, and accompany birth parents. See a list of all 2024 winners. June 2024.
Sharing an adoption story
“A year of filming for a documentary about music, travel, adoption and divine providence culminated in a birth mother and her biological daughter uniting on stage for a farewell concert at Leonardo’s Coffeehouse on Aug. 3.” Read the full article about Springs of Love contributor Kate Stapleton and her upcoming documentary. Weirton Daily Times. August 2023.
Adoption, foster care and celebrating birth mothers: The pro-life movement’s post-Roe causes
Author Kathryn Jean Lopez discusses adoption and foster care, post-Roe, and the need to educate Catholic couples about adoption with resources like Springs of Love. Read the full article in America Magazine. June 2023.
Pro-Lifers Should Get Involved in Foster Care, 2 Moms Urge
This article details a Zoom webinar with Kimberly Henkel and Tori Hope Petersen, where the two discussed how pro-lifers should defend and protect the lives of children in foster care in a Post-Dobbs America. Read the full article in The Daily Signal. June 2023.
Foster care is a pro-life issue the Church should fully support, parents say
“There are no unwanted children,” an anonymous inspiring quote declares, “just unfound families.” But the reality presents a more complex and challenging scenario — one in which foster care must be viewed as a pro-life issue. Read the article from Our Sunday Visitor, featuring an interview with Springs of Love’s Dr. Kimberly Henkel. May 2023.
