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May Is National Foster Care Month
Building connections with families: Maggie and Jemoris
Kids Central, Inc.
Maggie and Jemoris
Building connections with families
Maggie
Maggie was surprised the day she received a phone call from the family finding coach at Kids Central, Inc., explaining that she was developing a support team for Jemoris (Maggie's son) and was contacting family members.
Jemoris, age 17, had been in the foster system approximately 13 years and had lived in about 21 homes. When he turns 18 he will age out of foster care and face the start of his adult life alone. But the family finding coach and case manager made phone calls, sent letters, and scheduled a family meeting. They were able to guide the family in building a support system for Jemoris that now includes 20 family members.
Jemoris entered the foster care system because of Maggie’s substance abuse. Maggie is grateful that Kids Central reached out to her and gave her the opportunity to be back in Jemoris' life through phone calls and visits. "Stacy calling me, after all these years, let me know there was somebody out there that understood that Jemoris still has a family," said Maggie.
Last September at his own family meeting, Jemoris spent time with his Mom and all his brothers and sisters for the first time in 3 years. That family meeting addressed the need Jemoris has to restore connections to family and friends, in whatever way each member is able. Jemoris now has visitation with his family regularly.
Jemoris attended his 18th birthday party with all of his family and friends on February 5. "Now that he will be an adult, he can come home if he needs to," said Maggie.
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