Bio

Jennifer Mortenson is a devoted mother and wife of twenty-six years, raising twelve children—six biological and six adopted—whose ages range from two to twenty-three. She is also a foster parent of nine years, extending care and stability to countless vulnerable children. Jennifer holds a degree in Psychology, enhancing her expertise in child development and family dynamics. As co-founder of Hope’s Closet, she has helped facilitate approximately 30,000 “shopping” experiences for foster, adopted, and kinship-care children across Kentucky. A committed child-welfare advocate, she has testified before the legislature, contributed to reform initiatives, and serves on the Trusted Advisors Council to the DCBS Commissioner. Jennifer has become a trusted resource for her expertise and knowledge of child welfare law and policy. As the mother of a child with Type 1 diabetes, she also promotes awareness and support for families managing chronic health conditions.

Parenting Philosophy

When I think about my parenting philosophy—past, present, and future—I have to smile. The greatest lesson I’ve learned as a parent of 23 years, to 12 children and many others who’ve come through my home, is that there is no single philosophy that works for every child. With children from diverse backgrounds and histories of trauma, I’ve realized that flexibility and empathy are essential. Rather than one fixed philosophy, I hold to a set of guiding principles that I tailor to each child individually. At the heart of my parenting is the idea of “good, better, best.” There are many good things in life, and even better ones, but we prioritize what is best— those values and habits that help our children grow into happy, responsible adults. In our home, we teach faith and emphasize honesty, accountability, forgiveness, integrity, and love. We value education and encourage the rewards of sacrifice and hard work, both physical and emotional. We also strive to help each child understand their individual worth and divine potential, reminding them that they are loved and capable of great good. Above all, we teach that true joy comes through serving others. We believe it’s vital to expose our children to the realities of the world while also protecting them from harm. Striking this balance can be difficult, but it’s necessary to develop compassion and charity. Parenting, I’ve learned, is about meeting each child where they are and guiding them toward their own “best” with patience, consistency, and love.

Motherhood and Community

Smiles for Life and Dental Mission Work My dentist husband and I have been long-time supporters of the Smiles for Life charity, which raises funds through professional teeth-whitening services to benefit nonprofits serving vulnerable children. Through this partnership, we’ve participated in multiple dental mission trips to the Dominican Republic, often bringing some of our children along. We traveled to rural areas, setting up makeshift dental clinics and providing desperately needed care to hundreds of individuals. Witnessing such poverty was heartbreaking, but what struck me most was the unity of the communities we served. Despite limited resources, they lived as a true “village,” raising and caring for one another’s children. That realization deeply changed me and opened my eyes to the unseen needs of children in our own backyard, ultimately inspiring our family to become foster parents. Eagle University Youth Leadership Program Through Smiles for Life, I became connected to the founders of Eagle University, a leadership program for high-school and college-age students. For many years, our dental company, Mortenson Family Dental, served as the primary sponsor. I began recruiting and hosting students from across the county to attend and connecting community mentors to the program. Over my five years of involvement, I not only saw youth gain confidence and purpose, but I also learned alongside them. The principles of courage, connection, and integrity shaped my own leadership and gave me the boldness to advocate fearlessly for children and families. Co-Founder of Hope’s Closet That passion for service grew into Hope’s Closet, a storefront providing free clothing, toiletries, and essentials to children in foster, kinship, and adoptive care. Since 2018, we’ve provided approximately 30,000 “shopping”opportunities and hosted major events, including an annual Christmas event that serves nearly 1,000 children, a Back-to-School Bash, and a Prom Event celebrating young women in care. Through partnerships with Amazon, Hanna Anderson, and local donors, Hope’s Closet has raised awareness, connected foster families, and built the “village” of support caregivers so desperately need—proving that compassion in action truly transforms lives.