Desiree* and her two younger brothers Connor* and Micah* grew up in an unsafe environment, where they were exposed to drug dealing and domestic violence. When Desiree was 8 years old and her brothers were 3 and 5 they were placed in foster care for their safety.

Unfortunately, the siblings were split up, which is often the case for large sibling sets entering foster care. Desiree was placed with one foster family, while Connor and Micah were placed with another. All three children struggled as a result of the past trauma they had experienced. Desiree missed her brothers and worried about them constantly, having served as their protector before. She had trouble sleeping at night and was not always able to manage her emotions.

Desiree’s first foster placement didn’t work out because she needed additional support to address the trauma she had experienced. She was then placed with a young couple named Jonathan and Elena Rivera*. The Riveras were teachers and understood the power of supporting children who were having a hard time. Though they were committed to providing Desiree with a permanent loving family, they often struggled to connect with her. Desiree would sometimes lash out at the Riveras and sometimes withdraw.

The county referred the Riveras and Desiree to Stanford Sierra Youth & Families. It was here that Desiree started to meet with a therapist to help work through the past trauma that she had experienced. As she embraced the healing process, she started communicating more openly with the Riveras.

Today Jonathan, Elena, and Desiree are a family of three who are about to become a family of five. With the continued help from Stanford Sierra, they are in the process of adopting Desiree’s brothers, Connor and Micah. Each family and young person we work with has a unique story, but so many of them convey the same idea: through love, support, and hard work, permanency is possible.

*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.​