Every year in the United States, only half of the number of children who enter the child welfare system are reunified with family. The goal of foster care is for families to be reunited after the necessary steps have been taken to ensure the well-being of the household. But this is a hard reality for some parents as they could struggle to overcome their own obstacles.

Families go through crises, but Youth Villages believes it shouldn’t tear a family apart. When equipping parents and children with the proper resources and guidance, their family dynamic is more likely to thrive, improve its outcomes and reduce stress for the children.

Jasmin’s challenges were not uncommon for those who needed support, and the strain could lead to trauma for her family. Her son, Kayden, was removed from the home and put in foster care, where he remained for two-and-a-half years.

Determined to fight for her family and achieve her own personal goals, Jasmin received the treatment she needed to recover from substance abuse.

After months of receiving care at an in-patient facility and completing the steps to provide a stable home, Jasmin finally regained custody of her son. This motivated her to become the best version of herself and keep her family together.

The moment was surreal.

While happy to be together again, Jasmin had uncertainties about whether she was ready for this next big step. Now nine years old, Kayden’s transition back into his mother’s home was rocky, and he started exhibiting suicidal language and behavioral challenges. Jasmin says he would frequently lash out.

Oregon Department of Human Services referred her to Youth Villages’ Intercept program, an evidence-based model that meets with children and families in the home, providing critical tailored support to meet the goals of all family members. It is effective when used for preservation and reunification.

Intercept made the process easier for Jasmin and Kayden, but communication would be the key to their success.

Riley, the family intervention specialist, quickly stepped in to help ease the burden the family was experiencing. They worked on regulation techniques, and Riley encouraged Kayden to be creative in his skills to manage emotions.

He had Kayden practice deep breathing exercises. When doing this, some people think of a rainbow arch forming or imagine squeezing an object. But Kayden had his own label for it.

“He called it rocks and socks,” Riley said. “He made it up all by himself, and I thought it was awesome. I think one time I said squeeze, and he said, ‘We could do something with rocks and socks.’”

Riley worked with Kayden on communicating through an intervention technique called an emotional thermometer, a visual tool used to help youth understand and identify their emotions. This would be integral to Kayden’s success. Regarding his suicidal language, Jasmin and Riley learned this was a coping mechanism from his previous experience in foster care.

“We also used the Youth Villages crisis line a couple times just in case, and it has worked really well for our family,” Jasmin said. “The crisis counselor was amazing and supportive.”

Riley consistently encouraged Jasmin and provided her with critical parenting skills she needed to be the best mom for Kayden. She said the support was integral in their family’s success and provided her with a much-needed confidence boost, too.

The small-but-mighty duo are now living together in an apartment and, like any family, enjoy cooking, watching TV, playing in the park and eating ice cream.

“I want Kayden to be safe and happy,” Jasmin said. “I want him to thrive.”

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