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A Dallas Cowboy When Karla Auten, Family Support Coordinator at EveryChild, talks to families she speaks with a special kind of authority. She knows first hand what it's like. Two years ago a routine pregnancy turned into an emergency delivery that threatened both Karla's and baby Erik's lives. The Emergency Room Nurse that night remembers saying 'a man is going to lose his wife and baby tonight.' She was wrong, but that night was the beginning of Auten's journey as the parent of a child with disabilities. Now Karla works with other families helping them to consider loving family alternatives to institutional care for their children. "There is an unspoken bond between parents," said Auten. "You know you've spent a lot of days and nights in the hospital wondering if your kids are going to be okay. The fact is, it's not easy. But you can go on with your life." "And there's all kind of 'ups' everyday." added Erik's father, Robert Auten. Erik's father remembers before Erik was born he day-dreamed that his son would grow up to be a Dallas Cowboy football player. In the face of almost losing his son, his perspective changed. "They said 'He might not be able to see.' I don't care. They said, 'He might not be able to walk.' I don't care," said Auten as he smiled with a father's affection, winning a smile from Erik sitting in his lap. "I thought I wasn't gonna have him at all. If he's not gonna give up, then neither are we." Karla's job is helping birth families consider alternatives to institutional care for their children. "Karla's job requires respectful discussion of very emotional issues. Having Erik has given Karla an extra insight and connection with families." said Nancy Rosenau, Executive Director of EveryChild. "She doesn't assume her experience is the same as other parents but when Karla talks to a birth family and they learn about her personal experience, they say 'oh, you really do understand!'" Two Families-Two Dreams Come True • Luis Goes Home A Dallas Cowboy • From one Mom to another Mom

GUIDING PRINCIPLES Shared Commitments Support Families Shared Parenting Permanency Planning