GIVING BACK | BY CHRISTY MILAN
Change a Child’s Future CARING FOSTER CARE WITH LILLIPUT
LILLIPUT reaches out to families to provide homes for foster children. It all began with Bill Fuser. He conceived a better way to be able to serve children and families by “bridging the gap between public and private sectors.” Today Lilliput is part of Wayfinder Family Services. Together, the programs and initiatives help provide a strong foundation for children and their families, with the goal of ensuring children who enter the foster care system are placed in permanent homes as soon as possible. Since opening their doors in 1980, they have helped more than 9,000 children in foster care find their lifelong families. With close to 65,000 children in California’s foster care system, the organizations have been busy, and more than 16,000 of those children have been hoping for a lifelong family for three years or more. Working collaboratively with the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency’s adoptions programs, they also provide support for families following adoption. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional stressors on families. “We have many families who are struggling with ideas and the finances to support fun family activities that promote healthy connections and stability. Specific needs include funding for therapeutic activities, family activities, emergency funding for groceries, school supplies and more,” says Tanya Fontenot, program director of Lilliput’s Redding office. “These programs provide a strong foundation for children and their families, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to be part of a safe, nurturing, lifelong family.” “Resource family” is the term used to describe caregivers who provide out-of-home care for children in foster care. Resource families can include individuals, couples and families. They may be related, or they may have no previous relationship with the child. Kinship services provide the child with a connection to his or her own family. Grandparents and other family members step up to help the child heal and thrive. Lilliput supports “kin” families in their journey. Post-adoption services provide support for later down the road, as adoption is a lifelong process, the organization says. Some needs arise months or even years later, and Lilliput aims to support adoptive families now and into the future. They’ve created a community of adoptive families to act as a support system, which can help reduce feelings of isolation and emotional stress. It also encourages social connections and provides a forum for advice from others who have been there. Lilliput offers a mixture of services for post-adoptive families, including: Support and discussion groups, family consultation, resource libraries and trainings, information and referrals, social events and advocacy. “Through our foster journey we have grown our family many times over and have loved every minute of it,” says longtime foster parent Nancy Bly. “We get photo updates on our kiddos who have moved on, and three of them graduated high school last June. We love getting visits on Halloween and Christmas cards with updates.” • Lilliput • ( 530) -722-9092 Christy Milan, with a passion for story-telling and a love of words, has been pursuing her dream that encompasses adventure and community connections. She grew up in the North State and adores the outdoors, which brings her inspiration and recharges her batteries. She is avid about holistic health. Find her at christyswordcraft@gmail.com.
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www.EnjoyMagazine.com FEBRUARY 2021
