FAM Monthly Newsletter

It is hard enough for a foster child to succeed in school, never mind the situation that Daniele found herself in during her young life. Due to problems at home, Daniele was put in the foster care system at age 8, and spent time in six different foster homes in three years - a very difficult situation indeed.

Her seventh foster home, however, proved to be the charm, as Daniele was placed at age 11 with the Jarusinsky family in Stratford through the Boys & Girls Village therapeutic foster care program. Marie and Jim Jarusinsky read an article in the local newspaper about three siblings who needed a foster home back around 2005. The girls' situation touched Marie so she and her husband decided to become foster parents through the Boys and Girls Village program. At first they acted as respite providers to children in foster care. But after hearing about Daniele, they decided to "take the plunge" and they became her foster parents. Marie says, "When Daniele was placed with us, she was not happy. She cried all the way to our house. It was hard for her to move again."

Daniele's adoptive family has had their share of struggles in learning to parent Daniele. There were a few times when they wondered if they were going to be able to continue parenting her successfully. But as Marie tells it, "We couldn't leave her, no matter what. We just couldn't bear the thought of her not being ours." Marie says it took six years for Daniele to truly begin to believe in herself and come around - six years of caring and waiting. Marie says that she and her husband never gave up and continued to remind Daniele of how proud they were of all her accomplishments and her spirit. Both Jim and Marie worked side-by-side with their TFC Case Manager to make the placement work through some pretty rough times. "I have nothing but praise for our BGV worker, "says Jim about the support they received from Boys and Girls Village.

Providing a child direction and advocacy are key strategies. Jim and Marie advocated for Daniele to have academic tutors as well as mentors to help her learn valuable social skills. In addition, Daniele has worked closely with a church youth group and a personal fitness trainer. Daniele also maintains a close and loving relationship with her adopted sisters. Marie says, "Daniela adores them and they just love her! Even my daughter's husband loves talking with Daniele and she calls them all the time."

Daniele was formally adopted by the Jarusinsky family about five years later in 2007.

All of this hard work to overcome her struggles has paid off for Daniele and her family, as Daniele recently began her freshman year at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, where she has entered as a fully matriculated freshman. And with the assistance of grants, scholarships, and DCF, Daniele will not have to worry about tuition, room or board, either. Daniele has experienced the same struggles every other college freshman has this semester her mother says. She is a very sweet, bright young lady with a great sense of humor. Even though she's rather shy with her peers her mom knows that once she lets them in, they will just love her.

According to her father, Daniele also has big plans for her future. "She is in pre-training to be a U.S. Marine officer, and her goal is to undergo formal officer training during the summers between semesters," he said adding, "She wants to join the FBI."

Daniele has certainly come a long way, and this family's bond is strong. Daniele continues to be nurtured and supported by all who are a part of this young woman's life. Congratulations, Daniele, and good luck at college! Semper fi!