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Associated Press
02-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Children's Home Society of North Carolina Celebrates Family Reunification Month and the Power of Second Chances
Greensboro, North Carolina, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This June, Children's Home Society of North Carolina (CHS) proudly joins organizations nationwide in celebrating National Reunification Month, a time to honor the dedication of families who work to overcome challenges and reunite with their children, and the professionals and caregivers who support them on that journey. Reunification is the process of safely returning a child in foster care to their biological family; it is the most common and preferred outcome in child welfare. It supports the belief that, with the right support and services, families can heal, grow, and stay together. In 2022, nearly 46% of children who exited foster care were reunified with a parent or primary caregiver, according to federal data. 'Reunification is a powerful and courageous journey,' said Rebecca Starnes, Chief Program Officer at CHS. 'Families face real hardships such as poverty, mental health struggles, substance use, or lack of community support; however, they also possess incredible resilience. When we provide the tools and relationships needed for stability, children can often return home to parents who are ready and able to care for them.' Youth who have been removed from their homes and placed in foster care need positive relationships and connections with their parents and other family members to maintain the integrity of these bonds. The goal is that they will be able to return home. Foster parents play a critical role in cultivating these relationships by supporting child and parent contact and visitation, which significantly increases the likelihood of successful reunification. At CHS, reunification is more than a goal; it's a core value embedded in every step of our services. Through trauma-informed care, family preservation programs, intensive case management, and wraparound support, CHS works alongside families to help them develop the skills and stability needed to provide a safe, permanent home. An essential part of CHS's reunification support is the Success Coach Program, a voluntary service available to families after reunification has occurred. CHS is the chosen Success Coach provider in 71 of 100 counties in North Carolina. Through regular in-home visits and personalized guidance, Success Coaches help families strengthen communication, build resilience, and develop tools for long-term stability. This ongoing support ensures that reunified families are not only brought back together but are equipped to thrive together. By offering coaching for up to two years, the program helps prevent future crises and reinforces CHS's commitment to lasting, safe permanency. National Reunification Month is a time to acknowledge the hard work of families and the vital role of foster parents, social workers, and community partners in restoring families and futures. CHS especially celebrates its more than 500 licensed CHS foster parents who support reunification every day. 'Keeping families together whenever it's safe to do so is the best possible outcome for children,' said Starnes. 'It allows them to maintain their identity, their connections, and their sense of belonging, and that's what every child deserves.' To learn more about CHS's family preservation and foster care services, visit ### About Children's Home Society of North Carolina Children's Home Society offers a network of services and support throughout North Carolina to help establish and sustain healthy, loving relationships in every family. For 120 years, Children's Home Society has provided a broad spectrum of programs and services including adoption, foster care, parenting education, family preservation, and teen responsibility. Children's Home Society believes in the importance of family, not only in the life of a child but also in the foundation of a community. For more information, visit Becky Alley Children's Home Society of North Carolina 3367061886 [email protected]
CBC
28-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Ontario youth aging out of foster care say they need more support. These groups are stepping in
Social Sharing Aging out of child welfare can be a lonely and isolating experience, which is why these Ontario organizations are offering mentorship to help the young adults transition into adulthood. Losing access to children's aid services, including foster homes and social workers, can leave them on their own to figure out basic life skills such as paying bills or renting an apartment, according to youth formerly in care. "Often people say, 'I moved out when I was 18, so what's the problem?' but the biggest difference for young people from foster care is that they don't have anyone in their corner," said Heather O'Keefe, the founder and chief executive officer of StepStones, a not-for-profit that connects youth in care with mentors. "When I moved out to university and I was going to make my first chicken meal, I could call my mom and say, 'Hey mom, how do I make this?,'" O'Keefe said. "I still had people to rely on, but people from foster care don't have people to help them navigate." There are close to 8,200 children and youth in care per month, according to the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies. About 1,000 youth age out of the system a year, said StepStones. Children can stay in the child welfare system until they are 18 years old, with additional services they can access from age 18 to 22. In 2023, the the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services released a guide that Children's Aid Societies are required to use to develop programming that teaches young adults about housing, employment and finances. On a youth's 23rd birthday, that all disappears. "Most of these young people have only had paid professionals in their life to care for them and support them," O'Keefe said. "When those individuals are no longer there, who is left? In most cases, no one is left." Toronto-based StepStones primarily connects former youth in care with significant people from their past, O'Keefe said, such as former foster siblings, neighbours or cousins. If that's not possible, they look for relevant community mentors, such as a sports coach or person at the youth's place of worship. "A lot of youth have been moved multiple times in different communities, and it's very hard and destabilizing for them," said StepStones chief operating officer, Liora Sobel, who lived in a group home until she was 18. "For us to help them build some connections in the community not only helps them stay connected, but with things like going to school and employment." Registered charity Never Too Late also works to connect former youth in care with a parent-like figure, which they call Humans. "One young person was in the room with us and they said, 'I just want a human being who's there for me," explained Never Too Late communications coordinator Wendy Hayes, who started living in foster care when she was 13. Aging out of child welfare is lonely, isolating, say young adults 4 years ago Duration 1:07 Children who are moving out of the child welfare system and their advocates say the experience is intensely lonely and the young adults don't always have the skills they need to succeed on their own. "Some young people have been let down by the adults, caregivers and parents in their life, and that sets up a certain expectation," she said. "We just use the word 'humans' to bring that comfort in." The organization offers training sessions for people interested in volunteering, which is an eight-week series that outlines the importance of the relationship and strategies to be successful. No cut-off between youth and mentors Before starting her current role at Never Too Late, Hayes was connected with a mentor through the organization, who she still has a connection with today. Now in her 30s, Hayes said the relationship centres on emotional support and advice, but younger people may also rely on their Human for help filing taxes or a ride to a medical appointment. "When our first and early caregivers can't provide for us, we learn to be very mistrusting of the world and for very good reason," she said. "Sometimes, I just need someone to check in with to talk about those feelings." Never Too Late works with youth in care ages 16 and older, while StepStones primarily supports those aged 10 to 25. Both organizations said they want to connect with young adults before they age out of the system to ensure they have adequate support during the transition into adulthood, but will not cut ties with youth who require continued help. "Everyone deserves to have that unconditional person in their life who's there to support them, no matter what and with no time limit," Hayes said.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I feel like I have no one': Aging out of foster care leaves youth struggling with life skills
While most kids can't wait to grow up and be on their own, Brownsville, Ont. resident Cynthia Quaite says entering adulthood has been the most isolating experience of her life. She spent her teenage years in the child welfare system, moving between foster homes and dealing with mental health challenges, but says aging out of the system has been more difficult than her combined years in it. "I feel like I have no one at this point," said Quaite, a former Crown ward who fully aged out of the system in October, after her 23rd birthday. "I literally have no family and no friends who understand. That part is really hard." Quaite was first connected with a children's aid social worker at age six, and started living in foster homes at 14. As a teenager, she struggled with mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression and self-harm. While in the system, she said the local children's aid society supported her by pairing her with foster families and helping her go to college, but she is now left on her own to figure out "normal everyday people things." "Anything to do with a car is out the window. They didn't tell me how to pay bills or how to own an apartment," she said. "I don't even know who to ask or who to call for that kind of stuff." In Ontario, children can stay in the child welfare system until they are 18 years old, but there are additional services they can access from age 18 to 22. As of 2023, children's aid societies are required to use a guide from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services' to develop programming that teaches youth about housing, employment and finances. "[The guide] includes new requirements for children's aid societies to hold them accountable for making sure youth are prepared to exit care," the Ministry said in a statement. "At age 13, children's aid societies will introduce discussions about plans for the future. At age 15, the conversations shift to developing life skills, such as financial literacy, grocery shopping, resume building, and how to access social services and other supports," the Ministry said, adding that the program was built with input from former youth in care. However, Quaite said that even with the extended services, it's hard to lose all of the support in one day. "I graduated college, so they assumed I knew how to do this stuff and didn't really think I needed the help, but that's not the case at all," she said. Quaite said the most difficult part of aging out of the child welfare system was losing her years-long relationship with a social worker. "I made a really good connection with her, I trusted her – and it's really hard for me to trust other people – and she told me randomly one day that she's not my social worker anymore." It was the same story for Woodstock, Ont. resident Nadia Sorgente, who aged out of the system on her 21st birthday in 2012. "I just remember bawling my eyes out on my 21st birthday," she said. "Ask any Crown ward and they will tell you they spent their birthday crying and dreading what was ahead, because everything we know support-wise is gone." While she stayed in casual contact with her social worker after aging out of the system, Sorgente said not everybody is so lucky. "You're losing a mother figure and somebody that you can lean on for anything with taxes, trying to find a job, working on a resume," Sorgente said. "You're losing that very last thing that you had a connection to, that would be like family." When Sorgente first read about Quaite's experiences in a Facebook post, she said she was immediately compelled to connect. "I remember being that age and feeling that way," she said, adding that the two have started messaging each other. "Being 34 now, and seeing that nothing really has changed, was kind of alarming to me." Sorgente said she would like to see additional support for former youth in care extended to age 25, with a specific focus on better mental health support and additional medical coverage. Quaite agreed, adding that she also wants children's aid societies to offer services that people can access even after they age out of the system, such as an optional support group for former foster children to build friendships and ask each other for help. "Kids who grew up as Crown wards feel really alone," she said. "We just need people to be there for us, just one solid person."
CBC
24-05-2025
- General
- CBC
'I feel like I have no one': Aging out of foster care leaves youth struggling with life skills
While most kids can't wait to grow up and be on their own, Brownsville, Ont. resident Cynthia Quaite says entering adulthood has been the most isolating experience of her life. She spent her teenage years in the child welfare system, moving between foster homes and dealing with mental health challenges, but says aging out of the system has been more difficult than her combined years in it. "I feel like I have no one at this point," said Quaite, a former Crown ward who fully aged out of the system in October, after her 23rd birthday. "I literally have no family and no friends who understand. That part is really hard." Quaite was first connected with a children's aid social worker at age six, and started living in foster homes at 14. As a teenager, she struggled with mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression and self-harm. While in the system, she said the local children's aid society supported her by pairing her with foster families and helping her go to college, but she is now left on her own to figure out "normal everyday people things." "Anything to do with a car is out the window. They didn't tell me how to pay bills or how to own an apartment," she said. "I don't even know who to ask or who to call for that kind of stuff." In Ontario, children can stay in the child welfare system until they are 18 years old, but there are additional services they can access from age 18 to 22. As of 2023, children's aid societies are required to use a guide from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services' to develop programming that teaches youth about housing, employment and finances. "[The guide] includes new requirements for children's aid societies to hold them accountable for making sure youth are prepared to exit care," the Ministry said in a statement. "At age 13, children's aid societies will introduce discussions about plans for the future. At age 15, the conversations shift to developing life skills, such as financial literacy, grocery shopping, resume building, and how to access social services and other supports," the Ministry said, adding that the program was built with input from former youth in care. However, Quaite said that even with the extended services, it's hard to lose all of the support in one day. "I graduated college, so they assumed I knew how to do this stuff and didn't really think I needed the help, but that's not the case at all," she said. Losing the closest thing to family Quaite said the most difficult part of aging out of the child welfare system was losing her years-long relationship with a social worker. "I made a really good connection with her, I trusted her – and it's really hard for me to trust other people – and she told me randomly one day that she's not my social worker anymore." It was the same story for Woodstock, Ont. resident Nadia Sorgente, who aged out of the system on her 21st birthday in 2012. "I just remember bawling my eyes out on my 21st birthday," she said. "Ask any Crown ward and they will tell you they spent their birthday crying and dreading what was ahead, because everything we know support-wise is gone." While she stayed in casual contact with her social worker after aging out of the system, Sorgente said not everybody is so lucky. "You're losing a mother figure and somebody that you can lean on for anything with taxes, trying to find a job, working on a resume," Sorgente said. "You're losing that very last thing that you had a connection to, that would be like family." Calls for transitional support When Sorgente first read about Quaite's experiences in a Facebook post, she said she was immediately compelled to connect. "I remember being that age and feeling that way," she said, adding that the two have started messaging each other. "Being 34 now, and seeing that nothing really has changed, was kind of alarming to me." Sorgente said she would like to see additional support for former youth in care extended to age 25, with a specific focus on better mental health support and additional medical coverage. Quaite agreed, adding that she also wants children's aid societies to offer services that people can access even after they age out of the system, such as an optional support group for former foster children to build friendships and ask each other for help. "Kids who grew up as Crown wards feel really alone," she said. "We just need people to be there for us, just one solid person."
Hans India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Hold talks with Naxals, Seethakka urges Centre
Mulugu: The Centre needs to reconcile and stop the Operation Kagar, aimed at eliminating naxals and dismantling the political ideology of Maoism in Central India, Minister for Panchayat Raj and Women, Child Welfare, Danasari Anasuya alias Seethakka said. On Wednesday, representatives of various Adivasi organisations met the minister in Mulugu and sought her intervention to suspend the Operation Kagar in Karregutta hillocks spread across the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. Seethakka urged the Centre to stop Operation Kagar and hold peace talks with the banned outfit CPI-Maoists. 'The Centre needs to respect the special rights in tribal areas under Schedule 5 of the Constitution. The presence of hundreds of security personnel in the hillocks panicked the aboriginals, affecting their routine life,' Seethakka said., Adivasis who eke out a living by collecting minor forest produce have been confined to their huts to avoid themselves in the crossfire for the last days or so. Adivasis who earn a few rupees by collecting tendu leaves, confined to their habitations, fearing a threat to their lives. Tendu leaves, a non-timber forest product, are used in wrapping bidis, the minister said. Earlier, Adivasi organisations took out a rally resenting Operation Kagar.
