Success Stories
A few years ago, I was asked by my good friend to help out at a nonprofit organization which supports foster children. I really didn’t know much about the organization, but I did know that I’d be volunteering for their Christmas event which was celebrating the organization’s families and kids. I didn’t hesitate to say yes.
I had such a wonderful experience. I was grateful that I could give back to these kids and share with them my talent for art by helping them create Christmas cards and ornaments; a special handmade token or a keepsake for them and their family to cherish. Since that first FCNI event, I have learned more about the agency and all of the good things that they do to support children in our community, including their family-based programs and Transitional Age Youth...
Upon arriving at my mentee’s house for the first time, I was really nervous and I suspected that she would be too. In fact, she was incredibly anxious; so much so, that we spent the first hour of our time together at her house talking with her family, trying to gently coax her into going window shopping with me. I remember sitting down next to her and telling her that I understood how she felt; being nervous and frightened of the unknown was normal and that it was very courageous of her to want to try this new relationship. And I promised her that I would make her comfortable and we’d try to have fun. Finally, she agreed. And we had the best time window shopping, laughing at the silly sunglasses we tried on and singing in the car. Little did I know how much I would actually get out of...
I discovered my heart for helping children in need toward the end of high school. It became my deepest desire that I find some kind of lifelong work where I could devote myself to helping and advocating for others, especially children. The Family Care Network became an outlet for me to exercise this desire while also learning more about foster care during the last few months of college.
My time at FCNI gave me experience with various facets of foster care, including specialty programs which support children with the highest needs. Going into my internship, I had no experience with foster care nor did I know what it entailed. But through training and hands-on experience, I soon learned a lot. I am so grateful for the FCNI staff whom I got to work with—they were eager to help me...
Following her father’s sudden passing, Jenny’s life changed drastically. Her mother took a new job that required her family to relocate and move in with her grandparents. Adjusting to a new home, with more people and a new school, was difficult for Jenny, already an emotional eight year old. Jenny’s behaviors became increasingly more difficult, and she was having physical and verbal outbursts daily which made learning impossible. Jenny was referred to the SBMH program in hopes that increased mental health support would help her stabilize her behaviors and heal from the trauma impacting her life.
SBMH matched Jenny with three critical resources—a Mental Health therapist, an in-class Rehabilitation Specialist and a Resource teacher all trained to meet her specific needs. The...
TJ spent most of his adolescence in foster care, and as he neared emancipation, he wasn’t sure what kind of future he could have. His parents, both having lost custody of him due to their unwillingness to get treatment for their mental health issues, never provided him with a good example of responsible adulthood. And while he had connected well with his foster family, he felt really unprepared for what would come after care. Could he go to college? If so, how did he enroll and pay for it? How would he balance working and going to school? Where did he even begin?
TJ transitioned into THPP his senior year of high school to receive important support services and learn essential life skills. Coming into care, TJ was really confused and fearful of independent living and college. In...
At 19 years old, Kacey found herself sitting down with her probation officer, trying to figure out what she was going to do when she was released from custody. She had a few family members in the area, but she knew they weren’t good influences if she wanted to stay sober and safe. And with no work experience, Kacey’s options seemed very limited. It was decided that Kacey transition into the THP+FC program to receive safe housing and vital support services. While skeptical that she’d be successful due to her turbulent past, Kacey met with her team and started mapping out goals—feeling hope build within her for the first time in a long time.
Before her team could focus on Kacey’s life goals, they focused on first meeting her basic needs—including her mental health and sobriety....
With no parents, Leo had moved between different family members most of his life. When he entered high school, Leo was living with his Uncle. The two butted heads constantly, some arguments resulting in physical altercations. For his safety, Leo was moved into Emergency Shelter Care. In care, Leo voiced his two greatest fears—one, that he wouldn’t graduate high school, and two, that with no family willing to help, he’d become homeless after emancipation. To meet his immediate needs and help him prepare for adulthood, Leo entered FCNI’s THPP program and moved into independent housing. Leo was nervous, but hopeful.
Moving into his own apartment with a Residential Assistant was a whole new experience for Leo, and he was quickly overwhelmed with newfound independence. Like most 17...
When she was seven years old, Zoe went to live with her older half-sister after her parents were incarcerated. After several months, Zoe hadn’t adjusted to her new circumstances well; she was throwing long, violent tantrums at home, mostly when getting ready for school. School was such a trigger for Zoe, that her sister, at a loss for what to do, would keep her home instead of making her go, which greatly jeopardized Zoe’s education. At risk of losing her school placement, Zoe was referred to MHSA-FSP where she was matched with a Behavioral Health therapist and provided Rehabilitation Specialist support.
The goals of the MHSA-FSP team when they first met with Zoe and her sister were to help with them establish a more positive relationship, and help Zoe develop healthier coping...
At 11 years old, Cara was placed into foster care after her mom, recently incarcerated, chose to give up her parental rights. Cara was first placed in Emergency Shelter Care, but then her Social Worker identified a long time FCNI foster family who she thought would be a good fit for Cara. However, moving from her mother’s care to Emergency Shelter Care to a new foster family was a lot of change, and Cara’s behaviors started to reflect her inner trauma.
Struggling with increasing anxiety and depression, Cara became almost non-communicative with her new family and workers. And school, always a place where Cara had excelled, suddenly became a daily struggle. Cara was matched with a TBS worker to receive the extra support she needed to overcome her debilitating issues and adjust...
David really wanted to be a good provider for his family. Unfortunately, having experienced a lot of trauma growing up, he struggled with unmet needs and addiction. When his two children, Molly and Manny, were very young, David wasn’t able to provide them a stable home, and he didn’t have a healthy relationship with their mother, Ana. Hitting rock bottom, David moved into a Residential Rehabilitation Center to get sober and heal.
While David was in rehab, his two children didn’t do well in their mother’s care. Both children displayed a lot of difficult behaviors, and Ana struggled to care for them. Ana’s refusal to cooperate with workers created an obstacle that the family couldn’t overcome, and the kids were placed in Emergency Shelter Care. When David completed his in-care...