In recent years, The Village has been at the forefront of reshaping Connecticut’s foster care system. Partnering closely with the state’s Department of Children & Families (DCF), The Village has worked tirelessly to welcome new foster parents into its growing network and provide better support for the children and families who are already involved.
Since 2022, The Village has played a key role in implementing an innovative, evidence-based model known as Functional Family Therapy – Foster Care. This model is designed to offer comprehensive support to foster children, their birth families and their foster or adoptive families, with the overarching goal of keeping families together whenever possible and addressing the challenges that led to foster care placement.
With this new approach to foster care, more foster parents are needed, particularly those who can provide short-term “respite” care, which includes placement for about three to nine months or temporary relief for fellow foster parents who may need childcare for an evening or a weekend.
Sometimes, children may need to live with a relative or family friend while issues at home are resolved. If no relative is available, youth are placed with foster parents who can provide short-term care. When reunification is not possible, some foster families choose to continue fostering for the long term or even pursue adoption.
While the foster care model has evolved, the need for loving and stable homes is greater than ever. On any given day in Connecticut, thousands of youth are in foster care, with dozens urgently needing a safe and secure home.
The Village’s foster care program spans Greater Hartford, Manchester, New Britain and surrounding towns. It stands as one of the largest and most comprehensive programs in the state. The youth supported by The Village’s program often have life experiences that have deeply affected them in complex ways. Through the collaborative efforts of DCF, The Village and dedicated foster parents, these youth and their families receive the personalized support they need to heal, grow and thrive.
Meet Kaiya, Valerie and James
Before Kaiya met her adoptive parents, her life, as she puts it, was chaotic.
Her birth father was arrested, and in the turmoil that followed, her biological family members were unable to care for her. From a young age, Kaiya was shuffled between homes, never knowing when she’d have to pack up and start over. This instability led to significant trust issues. To protect herself, she became withdrawn and retreated into solitude. Wherever she lived, she would hide in her room, becoming secretive and finding it difficult to open up and make friends.
But when she met Valerie and James, everything began to change for the better.
Valerie and James had always wanted to be parents, and they decided that their path to doing so was to become an adoptive foster family with DCF. After completing the necessary training and earning their foster care license, they learned about Kaiya, who was once again in need of a new home. Just from reading about her, Valerie and James knew they could provide the loving and stable environment that Kaiya needed to thrive.
Their instincts were right. Kaiya, an animal lover, was thrilled to discover that Valerie and James’s home was filled with pets—four dogs and four cats. Everyone quickly bonded over shared interests in music, art and games. This connection was the beginning of a new chapter for Kaiya, but they soon realized that she would need time and support to truly feel comfortable and begin to open up.
The support we received from The Village was invaluable. It felt like we had a lifeline—someone who knew Kaiya and could give us the tips and support we needed.
As first-time parents caring for a teenager, every day was a learning experience for Valerie and James. Kaiya was now in a new home, in a new town, and preparing to attend a new school. The Village’s foster care team was there every step of the way, helping them navigate these changes together. They provided guidance and reassurance, always just a call, text or short drive away.
“The support we received from The Village was invaluable,” Valerie said. “From the very beginning, we had weekly home visits. It felt like we had a lifeline—someone who knew Kaiya and could give us the tips and support we needed.”
The loving home that Valerie and James have created has made all the difference in the world. Today, Kaiya is slowly but surely emerging from her shell. She’s becoming more comfortable socializing and opening up. Valerie says the change in Kaiya is evident in two photographs taken during the school year—one on her first day and one on her last. In the first photo, Kaiya is slumped over, looking scared. Nine months later, in the second photo, she’s leaning casually against the doorframe with her shoulders back, radiating confidence and comfortable in her own skin. “Now, I feel that my self-confidence has grown because of my parents. I’m much more trusting,” Kaiya said.
Valerie and James adopted Kaiya on James’s birthday, which he proudly declares was the best birthday present ever.
“I’m so proud of Kaiya. She’s grown so much and is always trying new things,” James said. “She’s making friends. It’s like watching a rocket ship of growth take off, and it’s fun to watch.”
FOSTER PARENTS NEEDED!
Start your journey to becoming a foster parent today! Visit thevillage.org/foster for more information.
FOSTER CARE CRISIS
There are more than
400,000
children in foster care across the United States.
On any given day in Connecticut,
100
kids do not know where they will sleep at night.
The Village placed
127
children in foster homes last year.
My confidence has grown because of my parents.
