Defender Newsletter Issue 30

issue 3 0, may 202 1

defender MAGAZINE

Stories made possible by your impact inside!

may is national foster carE month

The Scott Family

The Quiñones Family

Every day, our team works tirelessly to find loving families who can care for kids in crisis.

And every month, you faithfully give, making it possible for 4KIDS to continue bringing hope, homes, and healing every child, teen, and young adult in foster care. We can't thank you enough for your ongoing support!

The Joiner Family

There are so many "wins" to celebrate in our foster homes already this year.

Our 4KIDS foster parents are fueled with a passion to perservere for every child that is in their care. Here are just a few recent examples: - One foster mom has been caring for the same two sisters in her home for the last 2 years. This month, the little girls are being reunified with extended family in California and this foster mom took time off work and paid for her own travel expenses to personally fly with the girls and help them transition into their new home.

- A foster family with five biological children of their own took in two siblings so they could stay together. Though both children had medical needs, the family didn't hesitate to take them in. The older sibling came into their home struggling with behavior, but this foster family is using the trauma-informed skills they learned through 4KIDS EPIC Training to help him feel safe. The younger sibling came to them underweight but after being in his new foster home he's been able to gain weight, feel comfortable, and flourish with this family.

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Last year, despite the pandemic, 65 children were reunified with their biological caregivers and 50 children were adopted by a 4KIDS Foster Family.

We're so thankful that 2021 is continuing to show the same promise. Our foster families keep  | 3 choosing to "say yes" to kids no matter what!

more cel ebrations ne wb o r n b a by Earlier this month, a baby boy was being discharged from the hospital at just a few days old with nowhere to go.

A new foster family who had just gotten licensed was called to take him in, and they said yes to him immediately. This Mother's Day, the foster mother was able to bring him to church for the first time, along with her husband and their six-year-old son, who has fallen in love with his new baby foster brother.

three sisters stay together In January, three little girls were removed from their home due to physical abuse, and were placed together in a 4KIDS Specialized Home.

The girls (ages 3, 4, and 6) came with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, and the first night in this new home was nothing short of extraordinary. According to Christal, 4KIDS Foster Care Supervisor, the girls excitedly ran around the house, opening every cabinet and touching every piece of furniture, one of them even exclaiming, "Wow, all this is for us?" Over the last few months, each of them has grown tremendously, from not ever talking or interacting with other children at their school to now boisterously playing and making friends! In their house mom, Rolanda, they have found an advocate and a stability that they have likely never experienced before. Since being in Rolanda's home, each of these three little sisters has grown academically, emotionally, and spiritually in so many ways.

a m e n to r + a ho me One of our single foster parents, Pia, recently welcomed an expecting teenage girl into her home.

In foster care, there are often limited options for young women who become pregnant, but that's not the case with Kimora*. Pia said "yes" to both Kimora and her baby on the way and is now able to walk alongside her as Kimora prepares for motherhood and continues to stay on track with her schooling.

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it ta k es a v il l ag e One of our residents at 4KIDS His Caring Place (HCP), Kiara*, just celebrated the birth of a healthy baby girl!

Kiara and her one-year-old daughter Lily* moved into HCP this past January when Kiara discovered she was expecting again, and could no longer stay in the shelter she was in.

Unfortunately, her family had distanced themselves from her, and Kiara had been completely on her own in her journey as a young mother. In a few short months, the team at HCP have become Kiara’s support system. They have driven her to dozens of job interviews, doctor’s appointments, and showed her how to feed, hold, and console Lily. When Kiara was nervous about her upcoming delivery and who could watch Lily, the HCP team set Kiara up with a 4KIDS Foster Family who could take care of Lily while she went into labor, and now these foster parents have become mentors for her as well.

Kiara has also gotten especially close with a 4KIDS social work intern, Taylor, who has spent the last few weeks teaching her how to budget and develop other important life skills. When Kiara went into labor unexpectedly, the HCP team was unable to reach the baby’s father, who had wanted to be at the birth.

Because the hospital staff was only allowing one person to go into the delivery room with Kiara for 24-hours, Kiara asked Taylor to stay with her. The fact that Taylor had earned Kiara’s trust in this way is worth celebrating. For the first time, Kiara was not alone in the delivery room and instead had someone advocating for her best interest. Taylor represented a team of people behind Kiara who care about her and have given her and her daughters a safe place to belong.

The prevention aspect of HCP is important to highlight this National Foster Care Month.

Through programs like HCP, girls like Kiara who choose life for their children have the support and encouragement they need to thrive as mothers, and break cycles of abuse and neglect. *Names were changed to protect the idenity of the kids we serve

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family feature: the w ood's Written By 4KIDS Foster & Adoptive Mom, Denise Wood

The Wood family at 4KIDS Family Christmas Party in December 2019.

When we first got the call about two brothers in need of a foster home, we were both excited and sad. They had been with a previous family for 3 years who were no longer able to continue fostering them. I remembered what it was like to be separated from my siblings when I was younger, so we wanted to make sure they could at least stay together during this difficult transition.

For reasons beyond our control, the case lasted another 5 years before we were able to adopt Kerwin (now 11 years old) and Franklyn (now 9 years old). In total, the boys were in foster care for 8 years, and in those years experienced many losses: their biological family, their first foster family, and many case workers, day care workers, teachers, therapists, and others.

In the midst of those years, we trusted that God was working all things together for good. Despite all that they have endured, they have also experienced many gains.

They have gained two older sisters, Jailisa and Nya, who love to tap into the boy's silliness and creativity. They have gained a love for church, camping, football, baseball, wrestling, soccer, roller skating, video, geo caching, theme parks, and more. As far as their character goes, they both have grown so much since our first meeting.

Kerwin had so many fears that he has overcome using healthy coping skills and is developing self-control in many areas. Franklyn is still working on transitioning issues, but he is using tools he has learned through EPIC and from his 4KIDS Therapist to help him. Most recently, they both made the A/B Honor Roll at their school!

If you ever ask them about their experience in foster care, they will both tell you that it was a time in their lives where they remember feeling most "special and cared for." The boys themselves advocate for people to become foster parents. "People should be foster parents because kids need parents to love them," shared Franklyn. "I would tell others to be a foster family because there are a lot of kids in this world that need loving, caring parents that want to be a part of a family," added Kerwin.

Kerwin and Franklyn picking out their new backpack's at 4KIDS Back to School Bash in July 2019.

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I have loved every crazy, exhausting minute with these two precious boys. They are so different than our daughters, and never a dull moment with them. Woody and I are so thankful God placed them into our lives.

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defen der s p ot l i g h t "Supporting 4KIDS and other similar non-profit organizations is SO vital. Like the founder of International Justice Mission, Gary Haugen, says, 'God's plan for the defense of the oppressed and taking up the cause of the fatherless is US, there is no plan B.' For this reason, I am so honored to be able to partner with 4KIDS! - Rick Krive, 4KIDS Defender

o th er ways t o ge t invo lv e d The Milazzo Family

champions 4kids

young advocates 4kids

EPIC Training & resources

vision tours

Get together with other Christian business executives monthly to collaborate on different 4KIDS initiatives!

Meetings occur in Broward, Palm Beach, and the Treasure Coast.

For more information, contact Joel at JoelC@4KIDS.us.

This group is made up of young professionals and college students that host fundraisers, organize service projects, and put on social events to benefit 4KIDS. To learn more about YA4K, reach out to Katelynn at KatelynnV@4KIDS.us.

Gain fresh insight on how to work with kids who have experienced trauma, and how to be more effective as a parent or leader in any child’s life. EPIC Training is free and occurs online over two days. To register for an upcoming training, visit 4KIDS.us/EPIC/Training.

There’s also an array of parenting videos, blogs, and tip sheets created by our 4KIDS Clinical Team available at 4KIDS.us/EPIC/ParentResources.

Experience a walk-through of our main headquarters, hear stories of transformed lives, and learn all about what makes 4KIDS unique. Tours are held virtually twice a month, and in-person once a quarter. To sign up for the next one, visit 4KIDS.us/VisionTour.

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2717 West Cyp ress Creek Road For t Lauderdale, FL 33309