A year ago, the UConn Health Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) received a call from a relative guardian, who sounded overwhelmed. "Lily", the permanent guardian of her six-year old grandson "Johnny", was also newly parenting her teenage nephew "David" after his mother passed away. Lily needed immediate help for David, and help accessing the proper services and resources for Johnny, who has special needs.

 

Lily recognized that 16 year-old David was grieving the loss of his mother, but when he began isolating himself in his room and refusing to speak to anyone, she became concerned. Lily knew that David needed help dealing with the profound feelings of loss that result from the death of a parent. She also knew that he needed connections with peers, male role models, and healthy activities. But Lily was appointed guardianship of David through the Probate Court, and because he was not DCF committed, Lily was not eligible for a financial subsidy. The AAP connected Lily to the Probate Court, and she was able to receive a grant from their Kinship Fund to cover some of David's basic needs. The AAP helped Lily identify teen job programs, a no-cost camp for children who have lost parents, and other activities to get David involved in the community; then Lily made the phone calls, did the driving, and gently encouraged David to "give them a try." In addition, the AAP helped the David access music lessons, and Lily shared that the music teacher has become a trusted mentor to her nephew.  Lily's commitment to her nephew's healing and transition is rivaled only by her efforts to help her grandson navigate the world from his perspective.

 

Lily's devotion to her grandson is obvious to all that know her, but now that Johnny is school-aged, his needs have changed. This has left Lily feeling ill-equipped as his guardian. The AAP understood why Lily felt overwhelmed. A case manager was assigned to provide Lily with hands-on support and education and who could collaborate with Johnny's therapist, community providers, and the school system to access appropriate resources. The AAP case manager spent time with Lily and Johnny and together they created a personalized care plan. The AAP case manager located an appropriate summer camp equipped to meet Johnny's special needs. Knowing what to look for, Lily used the camp experience to locate an after school program designed to provide Johnny with similar supports. The case manager also advocated alongside Lily at a school PPT, pulling together reports from Johnny's therapist, community providers, and doctors so that Johnny could begin receiving special education services. Gaining a better understanding of how the school system works and what services are available, Lily began communicating with the school on her own. Finally, there was a judge's order for visitation with other birth family members, and the case manager provided emotional support to the family around their feelings regarding the visitation. Last month, Lily called the AAP case manager and reported that Johnny is now beginning to form a relationship with his birth siblings; a plan she supports.