Kathleen + B

In June 2016, Kathleen was introduced to B as her case manager at Austin Angels. B was placed with her grandma and Kathleen was able to match them with a Love Box group. Over the next year and a half, she got to know B and grew connected to the family. In May 2018, when B needed to be temporarily placed in a new placement, Kathleen, who had recently been licensed as a foster parent, was able to welcome B into her home – and continue to be a consistent person in her life. B's Love Box group continued supporting her at her new placement, allowing her to be surrounded by consistent, healthy adults who were continuing to invest in her.

When B was eventually reunified with her mom, maintaining the relationship between her and B was a priority for Kathleen. She began mentoring B through the Dare to Dream program in order to give their new relationship space to grow outside of her as a foster parent, and give space for B's mom to be her mom.

The beauty of our programs is that they are based on community and connection – they are not a "one size fits all" approach to foster care. We know that every family is unique, every child is unique, and every story is unique. Whether bringing a meal, mentoring a youth, or becoming a foster parent and welcoming a youth into your home – we all have a role to play in changing the way that children and families experience foster care.