Lindsay reconnects with her family

At Bridges Homeward, we believe that if we support children and families to develop safe and permanent relationships, they will maximize their individual growth and community participation. We see that belief confirmed every day through the work of our Independent Living program, where we provide apartments, support, and advice to young adults ages 18 to 22 who are transitioning out of foster care. When we work to build trust with our Independent Living residents, we see them grow and flourish in ways they perhaps never would have thought possible. 

Lindsay*, age 21, has been an Independent Living resident since she was 18. Due to the trauma she has lived through, Lindsay’s ability to trust our staff and other adults in her life has ebbed and flowed in the time that we’ve known her. Unfortunately, she learned from a young age that she cannot trust most adults.  

Lindsay was adopted as a baby and any contact with her biological family was actively withheld from her by her adoptive parents. As a young child, Lindsay’s adoptive family would tell her she was unable to have contact with her biological family due to her behavior. This isolating message affected Lindsay greatly, and she spent most of her adolescence in and out of residential programs in varying degrees of restriction. 

Lindsay has struggled with being honest about what she needs from Bridges Homeward staff. But our team has built rapport and trust with her through consistency and transparency. We have shown Lindsay that she can count on us, and her ability to trust our staff has opened the door for her to trust other adults who will play an even bigger role in her life after she leaves the Independent Living program.  

We are happy to report that Lindsay will soon be able to meet her biological family for the very first time! Thanks to Bridges Homeward’s permanency funding, Lindsay can buy a plane ticket to meet her brother, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. It isn’t always easy, but Lindsay is building a relationship with her biological family that we hope will continue to sustain her after she leaves the Independent Living program. We are working hard to ensure Lindsay has a smooth transition out into the world, and we are so optimistic for her future.