Page 4 - Samaritas Our Hands Winter 2024

Family Preservation
Foster Care
Independent Living Plus
Adoption

“The best outcome of the worst situation”

A Family Preservation Success Story as told by a Samaritas Client

What really was different about Samaritas and their family preservation Like I said, I didn't see him for a month. So when we did reunite, he was angry.
program? The caseworker. I hadn't seen my son, Nasir, for a whole month But I saw the way that he loved them, and that gave me the perspective of okay,
before. And then I got my new caseworker, Marissa. And that's when everything at least I know that he's safe, and I know that he's being loved and he's loving
starting falling in place -- everybody interacting. where he is. Knowing that gives you a different type of calmness and reassurance
about focusing on the tasks that you have to do.
Before Marissa, I didn't even know that Nasir had gotten placed from one
house to another. So it was a lot of mishaps and miscommunication until I Once I got to see them interact and really got to see how much they really, truly
started getting into the swing with Samaritas. invested in him, and seeing how much they want him to be a part of their family
made me realize that this is bigger than me. Giving him that village and that
I think our case is different because we all decided to work as a team, not just understanding of people that truly love him and understand him, and just want
me and the foster parents, but Marissa, the caseworker, as well. I had great to see him do well, is the best thing that you can want for any child, especially
references as far as the therapists I had…they helped me navigate, where to take your child.
accountability and what not to feel beat up about.
I just think that they're beautiful people. They open up their doors and accept
This type of situation can be damaging to a parent's ego. And if you plan to and adapt and love him genuinely and wholeheartedly and that has been truly a
make it over the threshold of actually getting your child back, you're going to beautiful thing.
need to gain some confidence as a motivation besides just the therapy alone.
I love the family that we're cultivating for him to grow up in and be successful.
The foster parents that we were blessed with…really took initiative in trying to So we are creating a loving space for all, to grow.
make the kids’ lives better and understand them. A lot of foster parents don't And we're learning from each other and growing
do that. I have friends that have been in the system and had been mistreated together.
horribly, which made it my worst fear--Nasir getting into this situation.
We all need a village. And while it may not have been
But being able to work with the foster parents, I've had a very easy time the ideal way for our village to come together,
maneuvering because we both decided to dedicate our time to working with I'm glad that it happened.
each other for him, because it's not about us and how we feel personally. It's
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“Family Preservation is important because it helps families stay together
while also helping families regain their self-esteem. Family Preservation plays
a vital role in reducing foster care cases, improving emotional wellbeing, and
providing resources to the family that they may not know were available to them.
I enjoy making an impact on the lives of the families we work with. I enjoy seeing
the stress and worry of the families slowly fall off their shoulders as their problems fade.
Being able to help these families, even a little bit, makes me feel
as though the world is slowly becoming a better place.”
-Dalton Keyes, Samaritas Preservation Worker