Your Generosity Brought her into the Light
Claire, pictured with her adopted mom, is now finding support and security in her forever home with biological family members. She had lived in a sheltered world not receiving the care she needed as child with autism. After coming into foster care your gift ensured that she had a well-trained family ready to give her the time, attention and therapies to help her thrive.
Claire had never been to school, she had barely had the opportunity to leave the apartment.
Not until a truancy officer appeared at her door did the school system even know she existed in the home. The officer came looking for her older brother, and instead they found Claire; an eight year old girl with autism who was non-verbal and still wearing a diaper.
Quickly all the children in the home were removed and Claire was placed with one of our longest and most experienced treatment foster care families. Here she would start to receive the help she needed to grow and develop. Without early intervention for autism, Claire was functioning on a 2-3 year old developmental level. Within one year of placement with our foster family, Claire was able to function much closer to her age level and was beginning to thrive.
After years of neglect and no intervention for autism, Claire wasn’t able to communicate with caregivers and much like a toddler struggled with frustration and acted out with tantrums. Coming into foster care, Claire underwent assessments for how to best give her the care she needed.
It is because of you and your support that over the next several months she began receiving occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy. Soon she was able to attend a specialized school for children with autism.
And because of you and your generosity, Claire has found a forever home with biological family members in North Carolina, using words to communicate, fully potty-trained and thriving in a specialized school environment. This transformation is only possible because of YOU! Thank you for your love of children left behind like Claire.
“Right before she left our care to go live with family members outside of Virginia, Claire looked at me and said for the first time ‘Hello Kim’. It just melted my heart to see her grow that much receiving the care and therapies she needed all along”, Kim Thomas, HumanKind Treatment Foster Care Caseworker.
You transformed Claire’s life. Without you, she would still be waiting to get the love and support she so desperately needed, which is why your gifts matter so much. Every day there are children, who much like Claire, need someone to stand for them. Because of you and your support, help and resources are ready and waiting for a child in need.