Foster parents Aaron and Jolene Slavik adopt five children

[2025/9/15] by Spectrum News

A Pasco County couple has adopted five children over the past three years. Jolene and Aaron Slavik adopted the children after taking in dozens of foster children. 

The first child the couple adopted was a boy who they had taken in as a foster child.

The adoption was finalized in 2022. That boy is now 14-years-old. Then, they adopted three young siblings in 2023. Finally, they adopted a little girl in 2024.

“Then I said there is no more room in the inn, and we are done,” Aaron said with a smile and a laugh.

The couple has a very busy schedule keeping up with the special needs of the children. The children have various physical and other issues that require trips to specialists. Aaron says he keeps up with all the appointments by using an online calendar.

“I haven’t been bored in seven years. I don’t remember what that’s like anymore,” said Aaron.

The Slaviks try to keep a very structured environment in their home. That includes special exercises for the children.

“We do occupational therapy with our children to help regulate their system,” said Jolene. “We have learned through our OT (occupational therapist) to do different exercises that get all their large motor skills going to regulate their systems. Because if the children are dysregulated when they go to school today their brain is not going to be set to learn,” she said.

The Slaviks have pictures of many of their former foster children on a wall along the stairs leading to the second floor. One of the reasons they chose to adopt was because of the heartbreak of the foster children leaving their home.

“All of our foster kids we considered ours as well, said Aaron. “And we loved them like they were ours. We never went on a vacation without them.”

Jolene said it was a special moment when adoptions were finalized. “Once you are told they are yours it’s like your heart just explodes.”

The couple’s two biological children were 11 and 14-years-old when they started fostering children. They encouraged their parents to take in foster children and then to adopt.

“And because they came to us and asked us, it became a family ministry for us,” said Jolene. The biological children are now adults. “Our daughter does their hair, and our son comes and brings them to the park or brings them to Disney.”

“We have looked at this like it was a higher calling for us,” said Aaron. “It was something I never planned on. I planned on two kids and being done. But it’s kind of that old phrase,” he said. “Man makes plans and God laughs.”