Chuck Noerenberg, MN State Drug Policy Coordinator

The Keller family going left to right: Victoria, 7 years old; Jennifer (mom) holding Caty 2 years old; Brooke, 17 years old holding Jett, 1 year old; Nick (dad) holding Myah, 3 years old; and Wyatt 2 years old; and Brendan; 9 years old.

In their local community in Kansas, Nick and Jennifer Keller are known as the “Angels in Adoption.”  Over the last three years, the Kellers, along with their daughter Brooke, have opened their hearts and their home to six children, all of whom were prenatally exposed to methamphetamine.  Motivated initially by their struggle with infertility, the Kellers are heroes on the front line, working to save drug endangered children from the cycle of addiction and abuse.

According to Jennifer Keller, these children (who range in age from 11 months to 8 years) all had biological mothers with similar pasts.  “These women were not loved,” she says.  “They were abused and they watched their own parents do drugs and go in and out of the criminal justice system.”  But Jennifer is confident that these children will not end up like their mothers.

Yet, Jennifer and Nick realize that they may have to face other challenges.   Their son, Brendan, has several learning disabilities as a result of his exposure to drugs, and all of the adopted children receive extensive help, including speech therapy.  But they all learn from each other, with one picking up where another leaves off.  And they teach each other; the oldest will encourage the younger siblings, gently reminding them, “No, that’s not how you say it.  You say it like this….”

Though their children do have issues, Jennifer believes no one issue is impossible or even all that unique.  She believes that the challenges her children face are challenges that many children face.  The Kellers do get help from the State of Kansas, including healthcare coverage for four of the six children until they are twenty years old, which is a huge incentive for parents to adopt.

Jennifer, herself adopted through the foster care system, says that everyone she has dealt with seems to be genuinely on her side, but there are still frustrations.  For example, before the biological mother’s rights were terminated, the state would transport the biological mothers to see the children – even if they were high.  This means that the kids often witnessed their moms behaving in a very self-destructive manner.  Additionally, the state can do nothing to prevent these women from having more children, who, between them, already have a total of eighteen.

Despite these issues, Jennifer continues to urge other parents out there to adopt drug-exposed children. She stresses that potential parents should not be afraid of these children or the stigma they may carry for having biological mothers involved with drug abuse. The bottom line is that they are kids that are just like any other kids.

“They’re beautiful,” says Jennifer.  “Gorgeous just like any other baby.  With love, any child will be a blessing in anyone’s life.”  The most difficult part, she says, is not in loving them, but in not being able to do more through their efforts, Jennifer and Nick Keller, and their biological daughter, Brooke, are providing love and support to six fortunate adopted children.  But Jennifer is not content with limiting her efforts to just bringing six meth-exposed children into her home.  She is also working on legislation at the Kansas House of Representatives that gives further definition to illegal substances. 

“I’m only one person and I am making a difference,” she says.  The Kellers are an inspiring example for all of us involved with drug endangered children.