The goal of foster care is always reunification, when appropriate. Yet the reunification journey poses challenges because of its complexity. It can also be isolating, as many assume that if a parent’s children are in foster care, they must be a bad person. In this desert of support, our partner CarePortal’s care-sharing platform connects kids and families in need with local churches for help. Caseworkers share verified needs in an online portal that users can fund or provide items for. Then, a church responds by delivering the funds or items to connect with the recipient. The hope is to bring struggling individuals and families into a lasting, supportive community.
Esther is a part of her church’s CarePortal response team and recently helped a single mother move one step further on her reunification journey. But she never expected the powerful moment of connection she would experience with the mom caused by four simple words.
Physical Support Opens the Door
Laura, a single mom in Esther’s community, had lost custody of her daughter and was working hard to bring her home. She followed every step and made great efforts to create a stable home for her child. One month, Laura needed help with her electrical bill, and her caseworker posted the request on CarePortal. Esther and her church responded, covering the entire cost and exchanging contact info with Laura for follow-up.
Esther wanted to do more, so she decided to call Laura to see how she was doing. The conversation started slowly. Esther tried to get to know Laura, but she noticed the hesitation on the other line. It was clear to Esther that Laura put her walls up and wasn’t interested in talking. Choosing to respect her decision, Esther started to end the conversation. As she said goodbye, she left Laura with some parting encouragement.
“I’m proud of you,” Esther said. The line stayed quiet for a long time.
“Why?” Laura finally asked.
The question surprised Esther, thinking her reasons were obvious. She responded by asking some questions:
“Do you want to regain custody of your daughter?”
“Yes,” Laura said.
“Are you fighting for custody?”
“Yes.”
“Are you following the steps your caseworker provided for you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s why I’m proud of you,” Esther said. “You’re not giving up. You want to regain custody of your daughter and are working hard to meet that goal.”
Walking the Reunification Journey Together
As she heard those words, Laura burst into tears and started to share her story. Esther was the first person to say she was genuinely proud of Laura, and the two talked for hours. Instead of leaving her walls up, this mom opened up about her experiences. Esther accepted Laura for who she was and made her feel seen. At the end of the call, Laura thanked Esther and continued the journey to reunify with her daughter. She no longer felt alone; she had someone in her corner who believed in her.
For Others works to end the child welfare crisis in America, and we start by helping children stay with their families. This means supporting parents on their reunification journey so their children can come home sooner and relationships can be mended. We and our partners work together to create collective impact for children across the United States. Be a part of our growing movement! Donate today at the button below.
