Apel Family Success Story

The goal of our Destination Family Program is to help youth, like Jason, achieve permanency despite…

As young children, Jason and his four sisters endured a neglectful upbringing in an unsafe, unhealthy environment marked by substance abuse and domestic violence. In 2011, all five of them were removed from their home and placed into protective care.

Though their home life had been traumatic, they found comfort in being together. Unable to find a single placement to take them all in, the foster care system was forced to separate them from the only support system they had ever known.

For several years, Jason lived in foster care placement away from his sisters. Fortunately, Sandy, his oldest sister, was reunified with an extended family member and found some stability. At 19 years old, Sandy, a teenager herself, was determined to provide that same stability for Jason, by reunifying with him and becoming his legal guardian. However, the child welfare system can be intimidating and difficult to navigate, even for the most experienced adult. Sandy’s attempts to bring Jason into her home were turned down because the system deemed her too young and unable to raise both Jason and her young daughter. She was heartbroken, and Jason was close to losing hope, since he’d been in the foster care system for six years, living in a group home, and struggling.

During this chaotic process, a Stanford Youth Solutions + Sierra Forever Families’ social worker from the Destination Family program, entered the picture. After spending time with Sandy, the social worker was able to advocate that although Sandy was young, she was also responsible, organized, and dedicated. Sandy worked full-time, attended school, and raised a child. She could provide a home for Jason, too.

After a year of Sandy’s and the social worker’s continued efforts, the child welfare system agreed that Sandy could provide a loving, stable, and supportive home for Jason, and the placement was approved.

Three years later, Jason is now a proud, loving uncle to two little nieces, and last month, right after his 16th birthday, he officially and legally became part of this big, beautiful, forever family.