A Safe, Soft Place to Land

When Ayla learned that her name meant “warrior princess,” she decided it suited her just fine.

“She has never once deviated from ‘My name is Ayla,’” her mom, Amy Rueckheim, says. “She’s like, ‘I am a warrior princess.’”

At almost 6 years old, Ayla has the personality to match. She loves tiaras, dress-up, singing and dancing, and she approaches life with a determination all her own.

Her younger sister, Sophia, 4, is equally spirited —extremely independent and, according to Amy, “very, very, very happy.”

The sisters have been through a lot together. Amy, who has been a foster parent for nearly a decade, welcomed Ayla and Sophia into her home in 2023. After a long and sometimes challenging journey, she adopted both girls in March 2026.

“They really embrace life,” Amy says of her daughters.

Helping the girls along that journey came with challenges, from their medical and developmental needs to the complexities of their case. But Amy never had to navigate those things alone. DePelchin was there to provide support, resources and encouragement throughout the journey.

“I felt like I was co-parenting with DePelchin,” she says. “I just really had a level of support and care from DePelchin.”

Respite care was especially meaningful, giving Amy trusted people who could step in when she needed help caring for the girls. And throughout the journey, her DePelchin case manager, Elise, was there to celebrate the victories and help through the difficult moments.

For Amy, DePelchin became exactly what foster families need: “a very safe, soft place to land.”