When Brianna* was six, her mother became unable to care for her, and Brianna was placed into foster care. Her first placement didn’t last long.  When her second placement was about to end prematurely as well, Briana’s aunt Shelly* stepped forward to help.

Aunt Shelly found support through Dianne*, a family partner at Stanford Sierra Youth & Families. Dianne had been a kinship caregiver too. Dianne used her experience to help Aunt Shelly navigate the foster care system and gain custody of Brianna. Dianne also connected Shelly with a support group for kinship caregivers.

At Aunt Shelly’s house, Brianna shared a room with her cousin, who became a cherished sister figure. They played together and, like all siblings, argued sometimes too. Aunt Shelly ensured that Brianna received some overdue dental care and identified what turned out to be an undiagnosed learning disability, paving the way for necessary assistance at school. 

With Dianne’s help and the county’s coordination, Aunt Shelly arranged visits between Brianna and her biological mom, who had completed a treatment program. Brianna loved seeing her mother again. As their visits became more frequent, Brianna’s mom moved into an apartment nearby and slowly became a reliable presence in Brianna’s life.

Today, Brianna has reunited with her mother, who is working part-time while earning a nursing degree. Aunt Shelly and her family remain an important part of their lives.  When Brianna’s mom is at school or work, Brianna spends time at Aunt Shelly’s house, playing, and occasionally arguing, with her cousin. Brianna’s story is a powerful example of our mission of transforming lives by nurturing permanent connections and empowering families to solve challenges together, so every young person can thrive.

*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.​