Jeremiah would have gone into foster care without TFG

Ten days after she gave birth to Jeremiah, Kiera experienced a significant mental health crisis. 

Kiera and her newborn son were living at a maternity home that was also a longstanding referral partner of Together for Good (TFG). The staff at the maternity home knew that Kiera needed immediate medical attention, but the staff could not care for Jeremiah. So, they called Together for Good, asking for an emergency hosting.

Cayleen, a TFG case manager, answered the call and assured Kiera that TFG could provide a safe place for her son. 

Because of the urgency of the situation, Cayleen told Kiera and the maternity home staff to continue with their plan to take Kiera to the hospital for treatment. Cayleen would work on finding a host family who would be able to care for Jeremiah. 

Ultimately, the intake was finalized in the ER, and within five hours, a host family had said yes to caring for Jeremiah and was on their way to the hospital. 

Cayleen shared, “This was a significant hosting as [Jeremiah] would have gone into foster care if we were not able to host [him].” The staff at the hospital and the referral partner were incredibly grateful for an alternative to foster care that would keep Jeremiah safe and ensure reunification was quick and seamless once Kiera was doing better.

Jeremiah spent the next week with two different TFG host families. During this time, he was brought to the hospital for visits with Kiera, helping to assure her that her son was safe and to encourage her as she healed. 

As she reflected on the hosting, Cayleen said, “God just provided all the people to do this…these families flipped their lives upside down.” 

Cayleen was impressed by these host families, but she was not surprised. Every TFG host family is constantly living in radical hospitality, willing to turn their lives upside down for a family in crisis. 

They go above and beyond – like taking a 10-day-old baby into their home in the middle of a work week – to ensure that families are kept safely together. 

Kiera and Jeremiah have been reunited, and Kiera’s mental health is in a much healthier state. She is currently being supported again by the maternity home where she is living. However, she knows now that there are people who are ready to help her and Jeremiah, people she can trust who are committed to helping her be the best parent possible to her new son.

*Names and pictures have been changed to protect privacy.