Hannah’s Children Stayed Out of Foster Care Because of TFG

The healing journey often comes in waves of ups and downs. This has been especially true in Hannah’s life. Hannah* has been a TFG participant for several years now, but recently experienced a rough patch, causing Child Protective Services (CPS) to open an investigation.

While Hannah’s CPS social worker, Amy*, advised Hannah to go to a month-long treatment program, Amy did not want to open a CPS case or remove Hannah’s two children. Amy thought that a long-term hosting through Together for Good, while Hannah went to treatment, would be the ideal option. The hosting would allow Gabriel* and Ana*, Hannah’s children, to stay with their TFG host family—people they knew and trusted.

Gabriel and Ana during their hosting.

When Gabriel and Ana’s TFG host family was asked if they would be willing to host the children for the next six weeks, they readily agreed. Because of this host family’s radical hospitality, what could have been a chaotic and anxious time for Gabriel and Ana has felt secure and peaceful.

Gabriel and Ana’s host mom shared, “Hosting these little ones for the last several weeks has been a beautiful reflection of Christ's heart—a reminder that when we welcome children, we welcome Him. We are grateful for their mother's trust and for a church family that surrounds us all in prayer, embodying the truth that we are one body, called to love and support one another in every season."

Photos from the initial month of hosting.

Gabriel and Ana have stayed with people they trust and who they know love them, and have had regular contact with their mom.

Hannah completed the initial phase of her treatment program and is now continuing in the next section, which allows her to have Gabriel and Ana with her on the weekend. Hannah told her TFG case manager, “I'm incredibly thankful for those who've stepped in to care for them while I work on becoming stronger for our future."

During the long-term hosting, Gabriel and Ana regularly attended church with their host parents. After realizing how much the two young children appreciated church, Hannah decided she wanted to build this into her life.

Hannah reached out to her TFG case manager, Kelsie, and asked if she had any recommendations for a church to attend. Kelsie invited Hannah to join her at her own church! Now Hannah is not only sharing faith with her children and learning more about Christ, but she is building up community within the body of Christ.

Hannah knows that life won’t be perfect and easy after treatment. In some ways, it may be even harder than before, but this season has given her the opportunity to dive deeply into the support that she has through Together for Good, anchoring her and her family in the assurance that she is not alone.

Right now, there are countless mothers like Hannah who know they need to seek out help, but are worried about where their children will go. There are also countless social workers like Amy who are responding to calls and seeking to help families in need, but who don’t want to remove children. At Together for Good, our volunteers and staff are bridging this gap between vulnerable families and a one-size-fits-all foster care system.

Through tangible support, intentional community, and safe homes for children to stay, we are providing parents and social workers alike with an alternative to foster care.

When Hannah completes her treatment program in May, Gabriel and Ana will be fully reunited with her. But even more importantly, the community Hannah is developing at church, and her steadfast host families, are committed to continuing to walk with her and her children.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.