{"id":17629,"date":"2023-04-26T19:06:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T19:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gky.zle.temporary.site\/?p=17629"},"modified":"2025-04-29T19:43:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T19:43:19","slug":"summer-2024-newsletter-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childrensfriendri.org\/2023\/04\/26\/summer-2024-newsletter-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring 2023 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Foster Care, Foster Love<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tracy laughs these days when she recalls her very first placement as a Children\u2019s Friend foster parent.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey called me at work and asked if I could take a newborn. All I heard was that a baby needed a home<\/strong>,\u201d Tracy recalls.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She agreed to the placement immediately, then panic ensued. It was 2 p.m. She was at work, and her home was not baby-ready. She left the office early and got the place ready before Baby Benjamin arrived.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many new parents, Tracy marveled as she watched him sleep. She took countless pictures of his little expressions. \u201cHe was just so adorable,\u201d she recalls. \u201cOn the first day, he grabbed a handful of my hair and looked right at me.\u201d It was the beginning of a very special bond.<\/strong>   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benji went everywhere with her in those early days, and their bond grew stronger. But little did they know, another special bond would soon develop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first time Tracy met Benji\u2019s birth mom, she said: \u201cYour baby is loved, and he is well cared for. Go do whatever you need to do.\u201d<\/strong>\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clara, Benji\u2019s mom, remembers that day, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t thinking, I was just in \u2018go mode.\u2019 All I could think was \u2018Oh my God, I just want my son back.\u2019  You hear all these scary things about foster care, but Tracy just had my best interest at heart.\u201d Tracy treated her respectfully, Clara said. \u201cShe didn\u2019t have to ask my permission for things, but she always did.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they got to know each other better, Tracy saw that Clara had nobody to lean on, so Tracy became her support system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three months later, a judge ordered reunification. Clara had not had any unsupervised visits at that point. One was arranged, and it went well. Another was planned, and the judge said that Benji was to remain home at that time and not be returned to Tracy\u2019s care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clara quickly became overwhelmed caring for her baby. \u201cI wanted him back,\u201d Clara said. \u201cBut he hadn\u2019t been with me for three months.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tracy reassured her, \u201cWe\u2019ll work this out.\u201d She began taking Benji for a day or overnight, allowing Clara to go to her own appointments. Tracy would sometimes pick him up from daycare since Clara had no transportation. Their bond grew stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, they navigated the pandemic, working through their fears for Benji\u2019s safety. The two women did errands together, including pediatrician appointments and grocery shopping. At first, Tracy would show Clara what to do. Then she backed off and watched Clara manage it herself, once her confidence grew. Within two months, Benji was at home full-time, and Clara felt she had the tools to be a successful parent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n