A Vision for Family Preservation
The vision of Crossnore’s Bridging Families© program is simple but powerful: a world where children can live safely with their families. Every day, children, families, Crossnore staff, and community partners work together to make that vision a reality. The safety, stability, and trusting relationships built through this work are key to long-term success. Since the program began, 76.5% of the 51 children discharged, 39 in total, have achieved permanence through reunification, guardianship, kinship care, or placement in a pre-adoptive home.
The Journey of Three Brothers
One such success story is about three brothers…some of the earliest kids involved with Bridging Families. To say there were challenging behaviors by and amongst the boys might be putting it mildly…particularly with regards to how they treated each other. Over time and with the daily care, support, and guidance provided by dedicated, patient Bridge Parents, the boys settled into a pattern of a safe, structured home life. Their time with us certainly had its ups and downs as, unfortunately due to her own struggles, their mom’s reunification plan had to be changed to adoption.
Continuing Care Through Change
In other programs or situations, this likely would have resulted in yet another move for the boys, but Bridging Families – as a program – continued to provide stability and care while working with our DSS partner until permanence could be found. This success story also involves Crossnore’s Foster Care/Adoption team, as they identified and prepared the family to which the boys have been placed. This family told us that they “wanted to adopt a sibling set” to keep them together, and “we would have never had this opportunity if it wasn’t for this program”.
A Seamless Transition to Forever
Until the boys were ready to move, the Bridge Parents worked closely with the pre-adoptive parents, sharing information about the boys/family, as well as holding regular in-person meetings to help prepare them for the transition. According to the Bridge Parents, “Seeing these boys leave here with their new family makes me proud. It shows me that my work and love for them meant something. It makes me happy to know they have found their family that will love them forever”, adding that “this type of work is never easy, but it is so rewarding. We wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
What Bridging Families is All About
This story is a powerful example of what Bridging Families is all about: helping children find lasting permanence. Despite the challenges this family faced, it was the steady presence, unwavering support, and collaborative efforts of the entire Bridging Families team, Supervisor, Case Manager, Clinician, and Bridge Parents, that led to a successful outcome for three brothers who deeply needed and deserved it.
