Our mission is to create a system that ensures children with
disabilities grow up in families instead of institutions
disabilities grow up in families instead of institutions
Austin, TX 78759
Toll Free: 877-742-8844
info@everychildtexas.org
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Our mission is to create a system that ensures children with disabilities grow up in families instead of institutions |
8400 N. MoPac, Suite 201 Austin, TX 78759 Toll Free: 877-742-8844 info@everychildtexas.org |
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Every child needs a family and there is a family for every child
"We've waited a long time for this," said Bethany's mom. "Bethany and I couldn't have asked for a better present. It's going to be a happy new year."
Just as excited as Bethany's family were the caregivers and managers of the institution where Bethany stayed for the past nine years.
Nine years ago, Bethany's mother found herself in an almost impossible situation. With a terminally ill husband and twin infant boys, she couldn't give Bethany the physical care she needed because of her disabilities.
Meanwhile, Helena was working as a case manager for people with disabilities but says what she really wanted was to provide a family for a person with a disability who needed one.
The two families were brought together by EveryChild as part of the Family-Based Alternatives Project. The Project recognizes the importance of family life for children, but also that there are families willing to care for children when circumstances prevent birth families from doing so. After finding families, the Family-Based Alternatives Project pulls together many pieces of a complex bureaucratic puzzle to link families and multiple agencies and funding arrangements.
Bethany's mom was grateful for the facility, but she always knew it wasn't the family lifestyle she wanted for Bethany. After meeting Helena and Gabe, she and Bethany's brothers knew immediately that this was the family they were looking for.
"When birth families are not able to care for their children they want reliable, competent, loving caregivers. That is what a Support Family like Helena and Gabe can offer," said Nancy Rosenau, Executive Director of EveryChild, Inc.
"This new alternative of a support family means a child can have two families who love them and share in their care," added Rosenau. "The Family-Based Alternatives Project offers a new choice to families."