Families in foster and kinship care are navigating immense challenges. And yet, with the right support, extraordinary transformation become possible. At Amara, we see every day how donor support fosters connection and belonging for the children, youth, and families we serve. Families like Brooklyn’s and Jordyn’s. You can read their story below.
Like many siblings in foster care, Brooklyn and Jordyn were separated.
After some time in foster care, Brooklyn entered kinship care with a loving relative. On her first night there, she showed her caregiver a photo of her younger sister and the special pillow Jordyn had made for her. She slept with it every night. Together, they searched for Jordyn — but they couldn’t find her.
When the caregiver began receiving support through Amara’s KinPLUS program, things changed. KinPLUS provides individualized services to kinship families — one of the few programs of its kind offered by a nonprofit foster care agency anywhere in the country.
Marissa, the family’s KinPLUS specialist, saw how overwhelmed the caregiver was and shared that respite care — a short, restorative caregiving break — was available. After thoughtful conversations with Brooklyn, the caregiver agreed to try it.
✨ That’s when the magic happened. ✨
The respite caregiver Amara helped connect the caregiver to just happened to be the sister of Jordyn’s adoptive mom.
When she realized the incredible coincidence, the respite caregiver immediately reached out to her sister. The adoptive mom was thrilled — she finally had the chance to connect Jordyn with her older sister. And soon, the two girls were reunited.
Today, Brooklyn and Jordyn are making up for lost time — texting, laughing, and visiting each other as often as they can. The adults in their lives are committed to keeping the girls connected and building a strong relationship with each other so both sisters receive the support and love they deserve.