Family Connection Impact

Quotes by those impacted by Family Connection.

“I honestly haven’t experienced anything as meaningful and fulfilling as Family Connection this afternoon in a very, very long time. ”

— Sarah Lockenvitz, Family Connection Site Leader

“I’m so thankful for you all. The love and support you pour into these families makes such a difference. Thank you for being awesome.”

— Mersadies Risner, Case Manager

“All of our visits before this felt forced. Like we couldn’t be ourselves because the family member that was supervising made this uncomfortable. I get it. I’ve not been the best dad, but I’m really trying now. Since coming here, my visits feel real. Like my kid’s can be themselves, and I can be myself.”

— A Family Connection Parent

“I like coming here to see my mom. It’s a lot of fun! There are so many things to do and play with. And I like the people, they are fun and they like, care about me…. I feel safe there.”

— A Family Connection Kiddo

“Having the opportunity to support families who are experiencing a traumatic time is a journey that rewards you in ways you didn’t expect. Being a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh with, or at times the person who see the growth in real time is such a humbling thing to be part of. At the end of the day, I’m grateful to be a small part of their family story.”

—Anita King, Family Connection Volunteer

“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all “You’ve become my family and this has become my home in this season. Your the first people I want to tell when something goes right, the people I can tell about the hard stuff, and I know that at the end of the day you love me and my kids. I don’t have the support anywhere else. ”

— A Family Connection Parent

“I like coming here to see my mom. It’s a lot of fun! There are so many things to do and play with. And I like the people, they are fun and they like, care about me…. I feel safe there.”

— A Family Connection Kiddo

“Having the opportunity to support families who are experiencing a traumatic time is a journey that rewards you in ways you didn’t expect. Being a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh with, or at times the person who see the growth in real time is such a humbling thing to be part of. At the end of the day, I’m grateful to be a small part of their family story.”

—Anita King, Family Connection Volunteer

“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all “You’ve become my family and this has become my home in this season. Your the first people I want to tell when something goes right, the people I can tell about the hard stuff, and I know that at the end of the day you love me and my kids. I don’t have the support anywhere else. ”

— A Family Connection Parent

“Growing up in the system for part of my life it was extremely important to me to find an organization that will love on not only the kids but parents too. By being a supervisor it brings me so much joy to see these families be together even for just a couple of hours! Giving them the security and peace of mind that people really do care and love them and genuinely want what’s best for them is my favorite part!”

—Stephanie Phillips, A Family Connection Volunteer

“My favorite thing about seeing my mom now is that we can do all the things we have always loved doing together! Like painting, making cookies, and swinging [on the playground]. We have so much fun! And Miss [supervisor’s name] is always really nice to me and likes to hear everything about my day, it makes me feel special. I miss my mom always, but I like having fun again.”

—A Family Connection Kiddo

“Family Connection is changing the way families in the foster care system experience their community. I believe that the positive interactions they have with the Family Connection Teams, the and the safe, healing visits they are able has a direct link in reunification outcome. Every community needs Family Connection!”

— Julie Miles, Circuit Director

Data

Most of this data has been collected by the Family Connection Program in Greene County, Missouri, with some data from other Family Connection Sites. Current Data Collection is underway.

  • Family Connection Programs have hosted over 3,500 Parent-Child Visits across 6 Family Connection Sites in the state of Missouri.

  • Currently, of the families that Family Connection (in Greene County) has worked with for extended periods of time (over 3 months), of those cases that have closed, Family Connection has seen a 68% Reunification Rate.

  • Of those Families in Greene County, 48% were experiencing homelessness (HUD’s definition of homelessness is anyone who does not have a permanent address, which includes living in a car, a hotel, or with friends without a formal agreement), 100% were living below the poverty line, 94% disclosed struggling with their mental health, and 100% disclosed experiencing trauma during their childhood or early adult life (with an average ACE SCORE for these families being a 7).

*Data Current as of Spring 2024

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