KIDS', PARENTS' DREAMS COME TRUE FOR COUDSYS, FOSTERING HAS DELIVERED A FAMILY.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

VALENCIA -- When you walk into the living room of the Coudsy home, it's pretty clear that kids rule.

An inflatable Disney princess chair dominates the floor. Storybooks are scattered on the floor and pictures on every possible surface reflect a happy family with lots of different faces.

Susan and Khalil Coudsy said they ``stopped counting'' after at least 30 children crossed their threshold, all looking for safe harbor from difficult circumstances.

As foster parents, they welcomed each young spirit, loved him or her as long as they could, then made sure the youngsters were strong enough to be reunited with their birth parents. Four of those children became permanent residents when they were adopted by the Coudsys.

Ben, a vibrant 6-year-old eager to share pictures of all the babies and playmates who have come and gone, was 3 days old when he was adopted. Next came siblings Dannai and Justin, respectively 13 and 10. Mikayala, 3, the princess of the group, was their ``surprise'' addition.

``I feel with these four children, our quiver is full,'' Susan said. ``I love kids and always wanted lots of them. I used to dream of living on a ranch and having kids all over the place.''

Khalil, a retired Glendale firefighter, is a bit more philosophical.

``When we were unable to have children ourselves, the Child Share organization came to our church and talked about foster parenting,'' he said. ``We thought what a wonderful opportunity this would be, not just to have children in our home, but to give them a change from the lifestyles they came from.''

They jumped into foster parenting in 1998, taking training classes from the Children's Bureau, another nonprofit agency.

``One of the things we learned about were glass houses,'' Susan said. ``That's what they call it when you have everybody, doctors, social workers and schoolteachers all looking over your shoulder.''

Justin said that none of his schoolmates has a problem with him being adopted, but Susan said some strange questions have come from adults.

``They have this perception that foster children were damaged in some way,'' Susan said. ``I never think of my children like that.''

Dannai asked an interesting question when the family moved from one Valencia neighborhood to another.

``Is this a school for all foster kids?'' she asked Susan when she started classes at James Foster Elementary, named for a former schools superintendent.

While their family of six is comfortable, Susan and Khalil still welcome short-term foster children and provide respite foster care for others who need a break or cannot take children with them when traveling.

``You're doing what's right,'' Khalil said. ``It might be a lot of work, but these kids are looking for security and you're able to give them something they're not used to.

``Sure, they might test you and be rebellious, but they're just making sure you'll still be there. Once they know that, they stop.''

The Children's Bureau is one of the contract agencies that works with the Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services and holds foster parent and adoption orientation in the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys. The next session is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 27265 Luther Drive, Canyon Country.

``There are several people who start out as foster parents that become adoptive parents if the children can't be reunited with their families,'' said Marcia Morris, spokeswoman for the Children's Bureau. ``Foster care isn't meant to be long-term, it gives parents a chance to get everything done and fulfill all the court requirements.''

According to DCFS spokesman Stuart Riskin, there are 20,793 children living ``out of home'' or in foster homes, the lowest number in several years.

``The department is focusing on three goals: increased safety, fewer detentions (separation of children from parents) and greater permanency,'' Riskin said.

Riskin said that foster children are placed in county-supervised homes roughly one third of the time, with the majority placed via private agencies, which provide their own qualifying training and supervision.

For information on foster parenting, call the Children's Bureau at [phone] or the county's Foster Parent Recruitment Hotline at [phone].

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color; 1 -- color in SAC edition only; 2 -- ran in SAC edition only) Having fostered more than 30 kids, Susan and Khalil Coudsy created their own family by adopting Mikayala, 3, left, Ben, 6, Justin, 10, and Dannai, 13 (not pictured). Below, Mikayala eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made by her mom.

(3) Ben Coudsy, 6, is one of four children adopted by Susan and Khalil Coudsy, who stopped counting the number of kids they have fostered -- but put the figure at above 30.

(4 -- ran in SAC edition only) Khalil Coudsy helps daughter Mikayala, 3, wash her hands.

David Crane/Staff Photographer