Both of Aiden*’s parents struggled with substance use. When his mother, Kelly*, disappeared, his father—overwhelmed by addiction—left Aiden with family friends and vanished soon after.

What was meant to be a temporary arrangement stretched into two uncertain years. Eventually, those caregivers were unable to provide a permanent home, and Aiden entered the child welfare system.  Despite the uncertainty he faced, Aiden’s story did not end there.

Child welfare staff located his mother, Kelly, and offered her an opportunity to reunify with her son if she committed to treatment and met specific reunification requirements. Kelly agreed, determined to rebuild her life and restore her relationship with Aiden.

To support Kelly in her efforts, the child welfare department referred her to Stanford Sierra Youth & Families’ Parent Partner program. Parent partners are staff who have personal experience navigating the child welfare system and use that experience to guide other parents facing similar challenges. With her parent partner’s support, Kelly learned how to navigate the systems involved in Aiden’s care. Her parent partner also connected Kelly to outpatient substance use treatment and behavioral health services and encouraged her to stay engaged in the reunification process.

Having experienced repeated abandonment, Aiden struggled with anxiety, depression, and challenges at school. While he was glad his mother had returned, rebuilding trust took time. Kelly’s parent partner showed her how to connect with Aiden’s teachers and IEP team and how to access crisis supports and other resources to meet Aiden’s needs.

Kelly also attended parenting classes while continuing her recovery journey. The more consistently she showed up for her son, the more Aiden trusted her. As Kelly grew more confident collaborating with social workers, teachers, and therapists, she became a strong advocate for her son.  Her self-confidence blossomed.

Today, Aiden lives with his mother as part of the reunification process. He is stabilizing, improving in school, and forming friendships. Kelly works part-time, remains active in recovery, and is close to meeting the final requirements to regain full custody of her son.  With continued support and encouragement, this family is rebuilding a safe, stable, and hopeful future together.

*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.