The Road to Reunification: Sarah and Mark
The road to reunification for parents whose children were placed in foster care can be long, difficult, and confusing. Parents may find it challenging to navigate the various requirements, or they may face complex issues that take time to resolve. Thankfully, our partner Lifeline Children’s Services makes the process much easier. They offer multiple services designed to support birth, foster, and adoptive families through local churches. By doing so, they do more than meet a need; they create lasting, heartfelt relationships that last many years. Sarah and Mark are one such couple who found community and hope through a Lifeline-affiliated church. We share their incredible story of growth, perseverance, and determination.
Families Facing Separation
Children are placed in foster care for all kinds of reasons, and safe reunification is always the ideal outcome. The vast majority of cases are caused by poverty-related neglect. In other words, parents cannot meet all of their kids’ needs due to financial hardships. These parents love their children dearly and want to provide a safe, nurturing environment. However, because of their limited resources, they’re often forced to choose between bills: electricity or water, food or rent. In many cases, it becomes unsustainable, and the parents eventually lose their children to the state.
Sarah and Mark (names changed for privacy) both grew up in unstable home environments. After they became a couple and had children, the instability continued until eventually, their children were removed from the home. Sarah and Mark knew they would do anything to get their kids back, so they started working to meet the state’s requirements for reunification. One such requirement was a six-week parenting class approved by the state. And while several places host the class, Lifeline’s Families Count does it best.
Families Count with Lifeline
Lifeline describes Families Count as their family restoration and preservation ministry for parents seeking permanency with their children. Each six-week, biblically-based parenting class is hosted by a local church. The class facilitates the creation of a loving, lifelong community for the parents who attend, the main reason why Families Count boasts such a high success rate. Church members walk with class attendees throughout the process, regardless of their faith, giving these parents support and encouragement.
Sarah and Mark attended Families Count at a local church to meet their state’s requirements for safe reunification with their children. That choice kickstarted an amazing journey of personal growth and community support. Sarah and Mark found incredible assistance from the church. The couple had long worked to pay off their car, but that burden was lifted when the congregation facilitated its complete purchase. Consistent transportation became an everyday reality. The church also collaborated with Sarah to secure near-full-time employment. This newfound financial stability, along with Mark’s disability payments, allowed them to secure an apartment of their own. The church, along with a local nonprofit, helped furnish their new apartment, marking the first time in their lives that Sarah and Mark experienced a stable living environment. The church also offered housekeeping guidance and assisted in creating a budget, empowering Mark and Sarah to save for their future.
Farther Down the Road to Reunification
The last day of Families Count turned into the best for Sarah and Mark when each gave their lives to the Lord after the last session. To add to their joy, during graduation, Mark knelt and proposed to Sarah. They joined the church shortly after, were baptized, and became a part of a community group. Once again, their church stepped up to put together an amazing wedding for them, including a reception and photo album.
Most recently, Mark and Sarah received the news that they will have unsupervised visits with their children. While they still have work to do, this marks a significant opportunity for their family to move forward.
Families Count provides a crucial platform for local churches to minister to broken families, facilitating the reunification of children with their parents. When safe, family reunification helps reduce child trauma, break generational cycles, and typically results in better outcomes for the child. Through your support, we and partners like Lifeline can continue to help parents like Sarah and Mark successfully reunite with their children. Donate today to help us restore more families across the nation!
