A Safe Place to Grow: A Kinship Family’s Journey
A Safe Place to Grow: A Kinship Family’s Journey
When a child enters foster care, the journey can be challenging and uncertain. However, a child can find stability in the familiar arms of loved ones.
That was the case for one young girl who was removed from her mother’s care due to an illness that made her incapable of caring for her child. Tragically, her father had also passed away after drowning in the ocean. She was placed with her maternal grandparents, who stepped forward to provide her with a safe and loving home.
The transition was not easy. The grandparents faced difficult circumstances while caring for their granddaughter, and the child experienced challenging moments as well. Her mother would sometimes arrive at the grandparents’ home and display harmful behavior in front of the child, resulting in multiple instances where police became involved.
Throughout this difficult time, Friends of Foster Children’s Kinship Navigation Program (KN) was there to help the family navigate the challenges and connect with the resources they needed. The grandparents received support through accessing services, including regular therapy, tutoring, and equine therapy for their granddaughter.
The grandparents, who are older adults and continue to work hard to support their family, also needed financial assistance. KN helped them navigate the ACCESS application process, allowing them to receive food assistance and Relative Caregiver funds to help cover the costs of caring for their granddaughter. When challenges arose with their benefits, KN worked alongside them to resolve the issues and ensure they could receive the support they were eligible for.
The family has also found support through other Friends of Foster Children resources. They have utilized our Clothing Closet and participated in events such as the South Florida Fair and school supply distributions. Through each interaction, the grandparents have expressed their gratitude for the support they have received from FFC and the KN team.
Over time, the situation with the child’s mother did not change as hoped. The case was eventually closed with permanent guardianship in place with the grandparents.
Today, that little girl is a high school student who is happy and thriving. She is a good student with close friends and enjoys spending time with them at home. She shares a loving relationship with her grandparents and enjoys doing activities with them. She also maintains a connection with her siblings, who live with another caregiver. The family makes an effort to come together for family reunions, allowing the siblings to spend time with one another and maintain those important family bonds.
The grandparents continue to utilize FFC’s services, reaching out to the Kinship Navigation Program when they need assistance renewing their ACCESS benefits and continuing to use the Clothing Closet.
Most importantly, this young girl has been able to grow up surrounded by family and love.
During National Kinship Month, we celebrate grandparents, non-relatives, and other kinship caregivers who step forward when children need them most. Their commitment can change the course of a child’s life, and with the right support, kinship families can thrive together.
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