 Each month one of our member agencies feature a "star" whose service to children in foster care
deserves special recognition.
Stars receive a small gift from FAM and a certificate of appreciation from the nominating agency. This month we share a family from our partner, Casey Family Services. Dear Ms. Peggy Hill & Mrs. Louise Hill,
It is with tremendous pleasure that I write this Thank You Letter to you and your mother, Mrs. Louise Hill, for the exceptional role you have played in creating a Life Long Family for the adolescent in your care! I stand before you both honored to celebrate your commitment, courage, faith, hard work, sweat and tears that produced this proud young man. Most of all, I give homage to your steadfast decision to provide him legal permanency through the planning of an adoption in the next few months.
 Allow me to share memories that I cherish through our working relationship. As a woman of God I knew you walked with a humbling and generous spirit but make no mistake it was like a quiet tropical storm, if it needed to be. We encountered many bumps in the road where perceptions were your youth wasn't 'family ready'; was not able to live in the community; and could not benefit from normal community exposure - to name a few. You always stood gracious but firm - politely objecting and advocating for what you felt he needed, as you claimed this youth just as any mother would. On that day when you attended his first permanency team meeting, I vividly remember you calmly standing to your feet and exiting the room. I followed you outside where you emotionally stated, "What were you thinking that I could do this?" and I passionately said, "Because I have faith in you, trust me." You marched back to the group and I don't know if you know this, but it was this shining moment when I knew you were the right fit for this youth. I have learned more than ever through our experience together that sometimes your belief in something is more important than the method itself or how we get there. And that spiritual belief and blind trust is what carried us, strengthened our connection and what you so skillfully transmitted to your son. You see, you never provided "foster care", you constructed a strong, nurturing and flexible foundation of family in which this youth could feel "wanted-love", an enduring sense of belonging and claiming in every action with loads of extended attachments and a huge double dosing of maternal-protection.
When I think about how you tilled the soil, planted the seeds and cultivated the crop, I know I have born witness to the plentiful harvest that you and Mrs. Hill yielded in this youth. Indulge me for a few moments as I take you on this soulful voyage....You and your mother illustrated to him.... o that he could rise and transform into a confident and strong young man o that he could work through his past trauma and channel that pain into something positive o that he could advocate by verbalizing his needs and lead his permanency team, like you did when he couldn't o that he could free himself because he was only as trapped as he allowed himself to be o that he could forgive those who hurt him because he deserves to be unstuck in his past hurts and deserves a family o that he could again grow in a family and it wasn't too late as a 14 year old youth o that he could develop new, lasting relationships o that he could be a part of a village as a welcomed native with full membership rights and a contributing role o that he could process what happened to him and accept his journey through foster care o that he could understand his aggressive behaviors were a result of not having significant, meaningful connections or legal permanency o that he could reverse these behaviors over time through the opportunity of a family "who would hang on in there " o that he could be 'different' and still be loved to the bare bone o that he could put the missing pieces of his life together one piece at a time o that he could trust in himself and others and become the young man he yearns to be o that he could go back and experience those missed developmental milestones as a result of interrupted caregiving o that he could be a good person despite what wrongs his family may or may not have done o that he could have more than the one option "to have closure" with past significant adults in his life o that he could continue these connections by defining what role they can play in his life o that he could follow his dreams, reach for the stars and seek opportunities to better himself o that he could be vulnerable in order to get to a place of healing o that he could still love his birth family and honor the mother who gave him life and gave him up because she knew she could not care for him And you see, all of these "coulds" are not only exactly what he did, but are also what he is aware now that he can do! This I know is true when he so ever said, " Ms. Peggy and Grandma, I ain't going no where, this is my home." As a social worker, this is the greatest gift that I could give to a family....being a conduit to family creation and legal permanency as I support them in recognizing their commitment to becoming a Forever Family!
Ms. Peggy Hill and Mrs. Louise Hill, it has been a blossoming 3 plus years and My God what a beautiful and enlightening journey it has been ! On behalf of Bridgeport Casey Family Services' Staff and Leadership Team, I would like to congratulate you both for your commitment and spiritual servitude. We appreciate all that you do on behalf of impoverished children and families!
Warmly Submitted,
Audra Holmes-Greene, MSW
Bridgeport Casey Family Services
Permanency Planning Team Leader | 
