Reflections: Stories of Foster Care

A woman from the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe shares her story of becoming a kinship caregiver following her sisters passing. Though things may never be the same, things will hurt a little less and become a little easier as the days go on with support from each other and their community.

Bianca highlights her experience as a therapeutic foster care social worker in North Carolina and how her own experience in kinship care helps her connect with kin caregivers and engage families.

Sistina shares the story of her parent’s addiction and how she became the caregiver for her younger siblings after aging out of foster care. Although it hasn’t been easy, she started the process of fostering and hopes to adopt when the time is right.

Heidi talks about her work as the lead navigator for the Montana Kinship Navigator Program and how her experience caring for her brother’s two children helps her support and connect with kin caregivers.

Rori is a grandmother who shares the story of caring for her two grandchildren and the benefits of getting connected with services through a kinship support program. “I now have key pieces in place for my grandkids, like insurance, mental health support for them, and the protection of guardianship.”

Jasmine describes her experience as a foster care specialist and how being raised by her grandparents impacts her work supporting and guiding kin caregivers.

A kinship support program shares the story of Jennifer: a caregiver who opened her home to three girls who needed a safe and stable home. Many kinship families are not blood relatives, but the bond and sense of familiarity they create makes them family. Jennifer is one of those kinship families.

Julie highlights her work as the deputy commissioner of the New York foster care system and the kinship care strategies her agency implements.

A couple shares their story of becoming caregivers for their nephew and how they have helped him maintain a relationship with his father while they pursue guardianship. "I'm so thankful to GRANDFamilies for helping me out through the entire process when I was in a completely unfamiliar world just trying to do the best thing for my family."

Karla describes her work supporting families as a kinship navigator in Ohio.

A grandmother shares her story about becoming a guardian for her granddaughter, Aneres, and the gratitude she and Aneres feel for receiving support from the New Alternatives for Children Family Permanency Center.

Kimberly talks about her work as a kinship navigator in Ohio and how she supports kinship families in finding resources to meet their needs.

Brunilda cuenta la historia de cómo acogió inesperadamente a los tres hijos de un conocido y cómo este acto de amor transformó todas sus vidas. ‘Son 12 años llenos de vivencias y aprendizaje, tanto para ellos como para mí’”.

Kristen talks about her experience becoming a kin caregiver and how the resources available to her family helped them achieve stability.

Jamerika shares her story of maintaining relationships with family while in foster care and the support she received from both her foster parents and kin. Living with her family provided her belonging and insight and has helped shape her future path.

Lauren describes her experience as a case manager for the South Carolina Department of Social Services, including how she works to identify and license kin caregivers for children in care.

High Country Caregivers, a non-profit agency, shares the story of assisting a grandmother, Susan, in raising her grandchildren. Susan says, “High Country Caregivers has truly been a blessing. I think one of the best things about this program for me is just being able to relate with others about what is going on with our kids.”

Laurie shares her experience becoming a kin caregiver for her grandson and her journey to managing a program in Rhode Island called Kinship Connections, which provides peer mentors to kinship families who want extra support.

A kinship coordinator shares the story of Marlowe: a grandfather who had been granted custody of his grandsons after his transition from incarceration back to the community. With help from the State agency, the kinship subsidy, the Family Resource Center, and his community, Marlowe is on the way to accomplishing his goals and changing the future for his grandchildren.

Mari describes how her lived experience as a kin caregiver influences her work as a kinship navigator in Rhode Island and helps her support kin families.

A child welfare agency shares the story of Yvonne: a grandmother raising her grandson. At age 67, she never imagined that later in life she’d be a full-time parent, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Monica talks about her experience working as a family specialist in Ohio who partners with families to identify safe and healthy kin connections that empower children, youth, and families.

Nicole and Travis share their story of becoming foster parents. The couple feels drawn to giving back to their community and to help keeping families together through reunification. Nicole understands and easily articulates her role as one of support for parents and families, "It takes a village. That’s our mentality."

Nevada highlights how she became a kinship foster parent and how she navigated the kin caregiver process in New York City by using the Kinship Guardian Assistance Program.

Robert Sr. and Robert Jr. tell the story of raising their autistic young relative, Lea. “While caring for autistic youth can be challenging, Lea brings new life to our household […] Seeing how far Lea has progressed since she first came to live with us is the most rewarding thing about being her guardian.”

Ronda describes how becoming a licensed foster parent working with social services and her local child welfare agency resulted in better support and resources.

A grandmother from the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe shares her story of becoming a kinship caregiver for her grandson Mayzeo, who has spina bifida, and the kinship navigator program that provided services to meet his needs.

Teresa, a school social worker, shares her experience of becoming a foster parent for a student who did not have a relative placement.

Grandparents share their story of maintaining a connection with their granddaughter after she went to live with extended family following their son’s death. Because of their continued relationship, they eventually stepped in as full-time caregivers and became her legal guardian with the support of the GRANDFamilies organization.

Tish highlights her work as a family specialist in Ohio, in particular her experience working with families to successfully place children with kin.

Eileen no había planeado adoptar cuando se convirtió en proveedora de cuidado de crianza. Pero cuando se presentó la oportunidad de adoptar a la amada niña que estaba cuidando, decidió asumir el reto de ser madre adoptiva soltera.

Vashti tells her story of becoming a kinship specialist with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services and how she collaborates with fellow child welfare colleagues in identifying kinship guardians.

Jennie shares the story of how she and her husband became adoptive and foster parents to two boys, and how they have acted as supportive caregivers to the boy’s siblings. She also describes the importance of her relationship with their birth mother: “We are truly rooting for her. We are all family now.”

Angie and Matt share their story of meeting Sherry—a member of a class Matt was teaching related to addiction and recovery. While supporting Sherry, they became caregivers for her two girls. “The girls have brought so much joy and happiness to our lives. I would highly recommend for others to say yes to kinship care.”

Every Child, a community organization in Curry County, Oregon, shares the story of working with a mother to secure safe and stable housing in order to reunify with her son.

Un matrimonio abre las puertas de su hogar y su corazón para ayudar a jóvenes a encontrar seguridad y permanencia.

A community organization shares the story of Larry and Mattie: a couple who took classes to become licensed kinship, respite, foster parents, emergency placement, and adoptive parents. Through many obstacles, they proceeded with adopting the four kinship children in their care and cared for these children from toddlers to teens.

Christy and Kevin share their story of becoming foster parents for four siblings and eventually growing into a family of 12 through adoption.