Discovering Family

In 2010, Rebecca and her husband adopted three children, but this isn’t the end of the story. The next chapter began a decade later, in 2020, when they learned that their children’s half-siblings had been removed from their mother’s care.

One was placed with a relative, but two siblings still needed a home. The Division for Children, Youth and Families wanted to know – would Rebecca’s family foster them? After talking it over, they agreed.

Soon extended family arrived at their house, turning the second floor into a construction project so three bedrooms could become five.

Shortly after the two children arrived, the third joined after his relative decided they could no longer care for him.

Although they’d never met, Rebecca says the connection between the older and younger children was instant. She remembers introducing one of the younger girls to her big brother. “I said, ‘This is your big brother,’ and she just held up her hands and he picked her up,” she said.

The family met the children’s CASA, Debbie, a couple of weeks later. Debbie was already involved in the case and quickly became an important resource. As the children became more comfortable and began to disclose the extent and severity of the abuse they had endured, Debbie was involved in the decision for the children to stop communication with their mother. She was also there if Rebecca had concerns or needed to discuss something.

“I was writing long emails daily, and she was so responsive and helpful,” Rebecca says.

The case ultimately took over three years. Debbie was there at every step, even as other people on the case came and went. Rebecca recalled a period where the social worker on the case changed multiple times.

“Debbie was our only consistent support, and she was wonderful,” she said, noting that it was Debbie’s advocacy in court that helped bring the children’s needs to the court’s attention after significant delays.

Rebecca also said Debbie was “instrumental” in advocating that the children be adopted. In the summer of 2023, it was made official, and the siblings began a new chapter of their lives together.

Today, Rebecca said the children are doing much better and doing well in school, and that Debbie will forever be part of their family’s story.