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In 2016, Jason and Emily McDonald* came to Stanford Sierra Youth & Families (SSYAF) because they were interested in growing their family through adoption. They had three children of their own (ages 6, 5, and 3) and one on the way, but they felt strongly about expanding their family to include a child who had been less fortunate. SSYAF helped the McDonalds through the approval process and provided training and education to prepare them for their adoption journey.

Like many of the young people we work with, Iris* endured trauma and sexual abuse at a young age. For years these traumas were left unaddressed and untreated. Consequently Iris experienced depression and contemplated suicide as she grew up. Twice these struggles required hospitalization. On the second occasion, Iris was connected with a social worker at Stanford Sierra Youth & Families (SSYF).

As a dedicated trainer supporting the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in systems of care, I have the honor and privilege of teaching my peers about all the ways they can support children and teens from this community. LGBTQ+ children are often forgotten in the system, overrepresented, and left without permanent families to call their own. Many of us have heard the statistics, some of us have experienced them firsthand. So why should you join us in changing the life of a child?

One common question our agency receives is about the options available for people who may not be ready to become Resource (Foster) Parents, but who want to support youth in foster care. We recognize that not everyone who can adopt or become a Resource Parent is ready. At Stanford Sierra Youth & Families, we often have Resource Families reveal that they thought about becoming a Resource Family for multiple years before finally deciding to start the process.

Going about normal routines and balancing new challenges can be difficult during these uncertain times. Many organizations have been forced to restructure, furlough, or even stop providing crucial services to the community. At Stanford Sierra Youth & Families (SSYF), we have been delivering and will continue to deliver essential services to youth and families within our programs, all while focusing on the safety and well-being of all within our communities. The challenges we face during this time will provide us with invaluable tools and resources for years to come.

As we continue to follow the unfolding COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, our focus is the safety and well-being of all youth and families in our communities. We will continue to provide programs and services to youth and families, and ensure that families are aware of important information and strategies to reduce stress and anxieties during this crisis.

Like most aspects of life related to family and children, adoption is an emotional topic. That might be why foster-care adoption is so ripe for myth-making. At Sierra Forever Families (SFF), would-be parents often approach us with ideas that couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s clear up four common ones:

February/March of 2017, in a two-part series on how trauma affects children, this blog highlighted a 16-minute talk by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris that has been viewed on YouTube 1.8 million times.

Dr. Burke Harris, a pediatrician trained at the UC Davis School of Medicine, has been hailed as a leading voice in transforming our understanding of how children’s traumatic experiences can trigger serious physical and mental illness.

Sierra Forever Families offers comprehensive pre-service training and ongoing support to its resource families, but no amount of preparation can cover the infinite number of situations that might arise. Here are six you might experience.