February 26, 2025

Holidays can prove to be an emotionally difficult time for anyone. For children and young adults in foster care it can be even harder.  

We understand that every youth in foster care is a unique individual and our approach to coordinating home visits takes time and thoughtful planning to ensure everything goes smoothly. In the long run, the result is always worth the effort! Our team spent months planning and making preparations to ensure Thanksgiving and Christmas overnight visits were successful.  

Valentina’s Story

One of these visits was for Valentina, a 19-year-old young woman and her younger brother to spend time with extended relatives. She was anxious about the visit since it had been five years since the last overnight stay with family. So much time apart can stir up feelings of apprehension, insecurity, and rejection.  

Valentina felt nervous about the family visit due to early childhood trauma and inconsistent family contact since she entered the foster care system. After spending so many years away from family, she began to believe that reaching out would result only in being let down again. As a person with autism, feelings of rejection can be especially painful and difficult to navigate. Valentina felt as if no relatives were interested in having a relationship with her.  

Our team performed careful preparation work to dispel these negative feelings and to reinforce that her family still loved her. It took a lot of trust-building for Valentina to feel comfortable and allow us to perform family outreach and find relatives to connect with her. Once the family was located, our team also worked with the relatives to help them understand her unique needs. 

All of the dedicated prep work paid off in the end! Valentina had an amazing time with family and spent the holidays surrounded by the comfort of loved ones! 

The Importance of Permanency

According to the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, “The single most common factor for children who end up doing well is having the support of at least one stable and committed relationship with a parent, caregiver, or other adult.” (Harvard University 2024). In child welfare, this is called permanency.

Between 12% and 46% of foster youth become homeless after aging out of the foster care system (percentage varies by source). (Youth.gov) This research highlights the life-long impacts that trauma and disruptive events cause. Youth who age out of foster care without a permanent family or a support network are more likely to face challenges with unstable housing, limited work opportunities, and a higher incidence of both physical and behavioral health problems.

The Plummer team centers family and permanency with the children, young adults, and families we serve – in everything we do.

Going Home

Moving home permanently, whether to their original home or one with a new parenting relationship, can be a daunting process, young people may feel unsure about rekindling relationships and strengthening new ones. Oftentimes, youth develop a strong relationship with foster parents and other close support systems. The idea of losing these strong connections can be difficult.

They may have difficulty adjusting to not only living somewhere new but also adjusting to the new home’s routines. They may also worry about losing contact with any new friends and supportive connections they’ve made along the way.

Once youth return home there can be a range of emotions experienced by both the youth and their family. Family may feel an eagerness to rekindle or make new traditions while the young person may feel a sense of fear and concern as they move into a new, unfamiliar environment.

This was the case with Julia and Monique.

Julia’s Story

Julia, a 17-year-old girl in our foster care program recently moved back home with family. She had been living with one of our foster families for several years.

To help her and her family transition, we are providing additional while staying in contact to provide additional support when needed. These services include a focus on transitions and placement stability – things like: finding a job, getting her driver’s license, and help with financial issues. They will help encourage and sustain Julia’s lifelong connection with her family.

In December, she moved in with her sister and spent her first holiday together with relatives after such a long time apart.

Monique’s Story

Monique had made a strong, supportive connection with her foster parents and worried about losing that relationship once going home to biological family.

With the support of our mediation team (trained social workers who work to address the unique issues involved in child welfare care and protection), Monique, her biological family, and her foster family came together and made collaborative decisions on what is best for Monique. Moving forward, she will live permanently with her biological family and have regular visits and overnights with her foster family.

Permanency Journey

Ultimately, it is our goal that all youth in our care achieve permanency. This journey is as unique as each child is. With more than 23,000 children aging out of the foster care system without a safe, stable, emotionally secure parent every year– it is incumbent on us to work tirelessly on their behalf.