“They both have lots of sass and charm,” Kera says proudly when describing sisters Lianni, 3, and Camaya, 1.

Kera first fostered and then adopted the girls. She says that the two now enjoy anything from a trip through the carwash to an outing at the zoo.

“When I first met Lianni,” Kera recalls, “she was very quiet, and now Lianni talks from sunup to sundown. She doesn’t meet a stranger. I think anyone who meets her instantly loves her.”

Kera says both girls have grown and changed so much.

Camaya was only one week old when she was placed with Kera. Now, “She’s a little sour patch. She’s sweet and sour all at the same time, and I think she’s going to be talkative, just like her sister.”

DePelchin has provided many resources for Kera and the girls including therapy for Lianni. Kera shares, “it just really sets her up for success to work on any trauma that she’s experienced.”

Kera is grateful that DePelchin “always went the extra mile” and has been “very supportive,” ensuring the girls’ needs were always met.

With that support firmly behind the family, Kera hopes her girls will “grow to be kind, happy individuals, and I want to see them overcome the trauma that they experienced.”

Caring friends like you help provide children like Lianni and Camaya with loving homes, caring support and the resources to grow and thrive.

Londyn is a happy, active, 3-year-old who loves learning so much that she often runs to her preschool classroom.

After her mother’s parental rights were terminated, Londyn’s dad, Chris, worked with Child Protective Services to receive full custody of Londyn and signed up for a voluntary Parenting Program. He began attending DePelchin’s Fatherhood program, a multi-week course to provide parenting support for fathers and father figures.

“I’m very grateful for it,” Chris shares. “Without the tools that I’ve gained from the Fatherhood program, I wouldn’t have the life that I have with Londyn. [She] means everything to me.”

As an active parent, Chris shares that he “take[s] something out of every session, every week” and says hearing from other dads has been especially beneficial.

In addition to Londyn, Chris has five older children and he shares that “these are tools I can use for the rest of my life and for all my kids.”

In fact, your partnership helps dads just like Chris learn how to manage feelings of stress, care for their mental health as well as that of their children and so much more so they can give their kids the best care possible.

Chris shares a word of thanks for donors like you who make it possible for him and many more fathers to be a part of this program.

“Lives will be changed,” he says of the program’s impact. “It’s very important to keep this program going.”

Your passion for the well-being of children and the families who support them is truly making a difference. Thank you!

“You [are making] a generational impact,” shares Staci.

Staci and Tony were inspired to begin their journey of fostering and adopting because Tony himself is adopted and wanted other children to experience the same love and joy he had as a child. Their family recently grew after they adopted Raphael, affectionately known as Ralphie, and they are currently fostering Ralphie’s sister, with plans to adopt her as well.

When Ralphie was born, he was referred to CPS because he had been exposed to drugs. While in the NICU, he was placed in foster care with another agency. He was later transferred to DePelchin where Staci and Tony worked closely with his former foster family to make his transition as smooth as possible. On his adoption day, Ralphie not only gained loving parents, two older siblings — Elijah and Lizzy — but a whole community as well. There were 30 people at the court to celebrate his big day!

“[Ralphie] has an entire village to surround him,” Staci shares. “He’s got a whole team for him — not just us — DePelchin and so many people.”

Ralphie loves dinosaurs and big trucks and has a “very adventurous spirit,” according to his parents. “[Ralphie’s] default is humor and joy,” Tony says.

We are so grateful for the crucial role you play in supporting children like Ralphie. Together, we are impacting generations, ensuring more children like him and his little sister are safe and healthy.

For friends like you, Staci shares, “We couldn’t have done this without the people supporting DePelchin.”