When children must come into foster care, being able to stay with extended family or close friends, called kinship care, can make all the difference. Staying with family or close friends often means not switching schools, not leaving friends behind, and not giving up favorite activities like sports and the arts. It also helps kids stay connected to their culture and to all the important people in their lives.
For William*, being able to stay with a close family friend, Marie*, meant all of this and more. As a great student, William didn’t want to change schools and “start over” at a new school. Marie is deeply committed to helping William in every way possible, from helping him grieve the loss of a parent, to taking him to counseling appointments, to making sure he can get his hair cut by someone who knows his hair type.
“There’s a lot of great learning going on in that home,” said Brenda, the family’s Amara Caregiver Support Specialist.
Brenda has helped the family find a translator for all their state Department of Children, Youth, and Families meetings, and helped them navigate the complexities of building relationships with William’s extended family so everyone can stay in touch. She also helped make sure the family, which also includes Marie’s daughter, had gifts this past holiday season.
Amara’s Caregiver Support program and this new network of support for the family is helping William find stability, healing, and hope during a very challenging time, proving just how powerful community support can be in the life of a child in foster care.
*Names changed to protect privacy.