a place to call home: christina's story
Christina didn’t have a place to call home. Her mother couldn’t care for her, so as a little girl she lived with family friends and relatives, moving from house to house without stability. Eventually she was placed in foster care and was moved to an unfamiliar foster family. It was not a healthy situation, so she was moved again, and then again.
By the time she came to Bethany foster parents, Tammy and David, in 2013, the years of uncertainty had left her afraid and wary.
"She was such an anxious child, always wanting to be in control, to know what was going on,” said Tammy. Christina’s first few months at their home were difficult, as she struggled to trust her new caregivers.
But Tammy and David had hope for Christina that was well grounded in 10 years of experience. As seasoned Bethany foster parents, and recipients of the 2016 “Foster Parents of the Year” award from one of Philadelphia’s Community Umbrella Agencies, they had cared for many children from hard places and seen them begin to heal and thrive. Tammy and David continued to surround Christina with love, reassuring her of their commitment to her and celebrating her natural gifts. “She is so full of life, and she always has been,” said Tammy.
As Christina grew closer to her foster parents and siblings, her fears began to fade. When Bethany social workers and county workers discerned that reunification with her birth mother was no longer an option, they began to move towards adoption. Tammy recalled Bethany’s role in the midst of these transitions, “Bethany has been pretty amazing,” said Tammy, “The worker supports you and backs you up.”
On May 13, 2016, Christina joined her forever family. Along with a mom and dad, Christina gained six siblings, all of whom had been adopted from foster care like herself. Adoption day was joyful and exciting for the whole family, but for Christina, it was so much more. “She just let out a sigh and said, ‘now I know I’m not going anywhere,’” recalled Tammy.
The stability and love from her family has given Christina the opportunity to flourish. Her natural talents are shining through, and she’s enjoying drawing and singing, as well as growing academically. “She was two and a half grades behind in school when she came, and she’s pretty much all caught up now,” said Tammy with a smile. Today Christina not only has a place to call home, she has a forever family where she knows she belongs.
By the time she came to Bethany foster parents, Tammy and David, in 2013, the years of uncertainty had left her afraid and wary.
"She was such an anxious child, always wanting to be in control, to know what was going on,” said Tammy. Christina’s first few months at their home were difficult, as she struggled to trust her new caregivers.
But Tammy and David had hope for Christina that was well grounded in 10 years of experience. As seasoned Bethany foster parents, and recipients of the 2016 “Foster Parents of the Year” award from one of Philadelphia’s Community Umbrella Agencies, they had cared for many children from hard places and seen them begin to heal and thrive. Tammy and David continued to surround Christina with love, reassuring her of their commitment to her and celebrating her natural gifts. “She is so full of life, and she always has been,” said Tammy.
As Christina grew closer to her foster parents and siblings, her fears began to fade. When Bethany social workers and county workers discerned that reunification with her birth mother was no longer an option, they began to move towards adoption. Tammy recalled Bethany’s role in the midst of these transitions, “Bethany has been pretty amazing,” said Tammy, “The worker supports you and backs you up.”
On May 13, 2016, Christina joined her forever family. Along with a mom and dad, Christina gained six siblings, all of whom had been adopted from foster care like herself. Adoption day was joyful and exciting for the whole family, but for Christina, it was so much more. “She just let out a sigh and said, ‘now I know I’m not going anywhere,’” recalled Tammy.
The stability and love from her family has given Christina the opportunity to flourish. Her natural talents are shining through, and she’s enjoying drawing and singing, as well as growing academically. “She was two and a half grades behind in school when she came, and she’s pretty much all caught up now,” said Tammy with a smile. Today Christina not only has a place to call home, she has a forever family where she knows she belongs.
Thank you for helping kids like Christina!
