Finding Hope in the Hardest Seasons: How PCHAS Child and Family Services Supports Foster Families

When one foster family felt called to begin fostering, they knew there would be challenges. What they didn't know was how much the journey would stretch them as individuals, as parents and as a couple.

Through PCHAS, they welcomed a baby girl into their home, not knowing all that her story would hold. Over time, they learned that prenatal substance exposure had contributed to significant medical, developmental, sensory and behavioral needs. They quickly found themselves navigating therapies, doctor appointments, assessments and countless searches for resources that might help her not just survive, but thrive.

As she grew, her behavioral challenges became increasingly difficult to manage. When overwhelmed, she sometimes struggled to keep herself and others safe. There were days when her foster mother felt like her entire job was simply to keep everyone safe.

Family life changed. Her foster parents often had to divide and conquer at family events, with one staying behind while the other made sure everyone else could participate. The stress was difficult as parents and on their marriage. They were learning how to support a child who struggled to regulate her emotions and communicate what she needed, all while navigating behaviors they didn't always understand.

There were sleepless nights when they cried because they felt completely unequipped to meet her needs. But they kept fighting for her.

They took Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) classes, sought respite care, consulted doctors and tried different therapies and behavioral strategies. They advocated for additional support, only to hear repeatedly that she was too young for many available services.

That was one of the most discouraging parts of their journey. They knew what they were seeing at home, and they knew how much she was struggling. Yet, it often felt like the systems around them couldn't fully recognize her needs because of her age.

Trauma doesn't wait until a child is older to affect their development, and the need for mental health support doesn't wait, either. Young children impacted by prenatal substance exposure and other early trauma need support while they are little. Their families need someone willing to meet them where they are.

That is when the family was referred to PCHAS Child and Family Services.

Support That Meets Families Where They Are

At first, the foster mother felt overwhelmed by the thought of adding another weekly commitment to their already chaotic schedule. But they were willing to try anything that might help their daughter.

Their Child and Family Services specialist came into their home and acknowledged that adapting the program to meet the child's needs would require creativity. Knowing that the specialist recognized the unique challenges they faced helped the foster mother feel seen in a way she hadn't experienced before.

They began working on emotional regulation and TBRI parenting strategies through play. Activities like Play-Doh, puzzles, bubbles, coloring and books provided opportunities to practice regulation while meeting the child where she was developmentally.

Then came the harder sessions.

During one visit, the child became extremely overwhelmed. She was screaming, throwing herself on the floor and struggling to keep her body safe. Their specialist calmly worked with her through the moment, offering reassurance and helping her practice safe behaviors.

The situation continued for quite some time, and it was difficult for the foster mother to watch. But something changed for her that day.

For the first time, she felt like someone truly understood what their family was experiencing.

Their specialist wasn't seeing a brief snapshot in a doctor's office or reading a behavior report. She was in their home, witnessing the difficult moments firsthand, and she was still willing to walk alongside the family and help them figure out what their daughter needed.

The family had spent so much time in appointments, on the phone and searching for answers. Having someone come into their home and experience their reality alongside them made a difference.

Over time, the specialist became a safe and trusted person in the child's life. She was someone who knew her, understood her and helped her learn new ways to regulate her emotions. The child began looking forward to their visits, and the trust they built became an important part of her progress.

For a child who has experienced trauma, that kind of consistent, supportive relationship matters.

Progress Takes Time, and Families Need Support Along the Way

Over the months that followed, the family began seeing meaningful improvements in the child's behaviors. Progress didn't happen overnight, and there wasn't one single solution that changed everything. It came through a combination of advocacy, therapy, medication, a supportive environment and people who were willing to help the family better understand her needs.

PCHAS Child and Family Services became an important part of that support system.

Although the program is designed as a 12-week service, the family continued working with their specialist well beyond that timeframe. They were grateful that support didn't end simply because their situation didn't fit neatly into a set number of weeks.

Families in foster care need people who are willing to meet them in the middle of the chaos. They need someone who understands that progress isn't always linear, who sees the child behind the behavior and who recognizes the exhausted parent behind the crisis.

There were many times when the foster mother wondered if anyone else truly understood what they were experiencing. Working with their specialist reminded the family that they weren't alone.

Today, the family is in a very different place. They still face challenges, and there are still hard days, but they also have hope. That hope is something they don't take for granted.

They have since welcomed another child into their care who is beginning to show some similar needs. Instead of feeling completely helpless and wondering where to turn, they now know there is a program available to help them navigate those challenges.

That knowledge has made a difference.

Helping Children Heal and Families Thrive

PCHAS Child and Family Services gives foster parents somewhere to turn when they feel they have reached the end of their resources. It gives children another safe adult in their lives and equips families with tools to better understand behaviors that can be difficult to navigate alone.

Most importantly, it helps children who have already experienced significant trauma have a better opportunity to heal and thrive.

This foster family is thankful the program exists. They hope that as we continue learning more about trauma, prenatal substance exposure and the needs of young children in foster care, support like this becomes more accessible to the families who need it most.

Their journey has taught them that foster parents don't have to have all the answers to keep showing up for a child. Sometimes, what makes the difference is having someone willing to walk beside them, help them find the next step and remind them that progress is possible.

Because every child deserves the opportunity to heal, grow and thrive. And every foster family deserves support along the way.

Thank you to the people who make that hope possible for families like theirs.