Month: May 2026

Walking Alongside a Kinship Family

When unexpected loss reshaped her family overnight, one aunt found guidance, resources, and reassurance through ACH’s Kinship Navigator program.

About a year ago, Ana a mother of four children, stepped into a caregiving role no one ever plans for. Overnight, Ana took in three nieces and nephews after the children’s mother suddenly passed away. In an instant, her household suddenly grew, bringing with it more responsibility, higher expenses, and deep grief.

“It all hit at once,” Ana shared. “I didn’t always know what to do or what was coming next.”

Ana became a kinship caregiver outside of the foster care system and without a CPS case. Families in these situations often face the same challenges as foster families, but with fewer formal support.

Case In Point

A school counselor called about concerns with one of the children in Ana’s care. Ana was caught off guard and wasn’t sure what it meant or what she was supposed to do next. Everything felt uncertain. Not long after, she connected with a Kinship Navigator at ACH Child and Family Services, who helped bring clarity during an overwhelming moment.

That conversation changed everything.

Navigators walk alongside caregivers, helping them understand their options, and connecting them to resources during difficult transitions.

Over the past year, the Kinship Navigator worked closely with Ana to create stability for her family. Together, they tackled immediate needs like enrolling the children in Medicaid and SNAP, applying for programs that offered the children new beds, and securing everyday necessities such as diapers, pajamas, toiletries, and school supplies.

Support Beyond the Basics

ACH’s Kinship Navigator also helped connect the family to affordable haircuts through a community partnership and invited them to attend ACH’s Back-to-School event, to receive free school supplies, and holiday events, such as Christmas and Halloween celebrations, for free, festive fun.

Those moments mattered. “Every time I told the kids we were going to an ACH event, they got so excited,” Ana said. “With a lot of kids, it’s hard and expensive to do family outings. These experiences meant so much to them.”

One favorite memory was an expenses-paid family day trip to Fossil Rim, a bright, joyful moment during an otherwise heavy season.

Prioritizing Emotional Support

The children had experienced the loss of their mother, and their fathers were not in the picture. Some of the children participated in skill-building classes, while others began counseling services through community partners. Ana and her spouse even attended couples’ counseling, something she later described as unexpectedly helpful amid the stress and change.

ACH also helped address one of the biggest hurdles Ana faced: legal support.

As Ana and her husband move forward with adoption, ACH provided assistance toward legal fees, easing a significant financial burden. What once felt overwhelming became manageable — one step at a time.

Building a Stronger Future Together

Reflecting on Ana’s journey, our Kinship Navigator shared, “She has been such a wonderful caregiver to work with. She is resilient and persevering, and she always wanted to do everything she could for the children in her care. As she transitions out of the program, it is bittersweet. I am incredibly proud of everything she has accomplished, even as we prepare to say goodbye.”

For Ana, the greatest impact of Kinship Navigator was not feeling alone. “It’s an amazing program,” she said. “There are so many resources, and you don’t feel like everything is falling apart because you finally know what comes next.”

Ana’s story reflects the heart of Kinship Navigator — meeting families where they are, walking alongside them through uncertainty, and helping them build a stronger future together.

About Kinship Navigator

ACH’s Kinship Navigator program serves families outside the child welfare system who are caring for a relative’s children. The program offers outreach, education, and hands-on support, connecting caregivers to essential resources such as food, clothing, medical care, school support, and legal aid.

Many kinship caregivers step in during a crisis with little preparation or guidance. Kinship Navigator walks alongside these families, providing stability, emotional support, and help navigating complex systems. By empowering caregivers and connecting them to a supportive community, the program helps children remain in safe, familiar homes with the love of extended family — preventing entry into the foster care system.

Learning Structure, Building Stability

At 16, he was at risk of losing his footing at school and home — until a two-week intervention changed his trajectory.

For Darin*, school had become a source of constant conflict. At 16, he was smart and capable, but without consistent routines and support, those strengths often showed up as frustration, poor choices, and strained trust at home. Disruptions at school and increasing tension with his foster parents made it clear he needed more support than discipline alone could provide.

That’s when his family turned to Turning Point, a two-week program from ACH Child and Family Services designed to help foster families avoid placement disruption.

Creating Structure, One Day at a Time

From the start, Darin’s days at Turning Point were structured and intentional. Clear routines helped him rebuild habits he would need both at home and at school, such as getting up on time, practicing personal hygiene, organizing his space, and following daily expectations.

“A lot of our kids haven’t had structure in a long time,” said Jean‑Michele De Goede, program supervisor at Turning Point. “Once they feel safe and know what to expect, you really start to see them settle in.”

Education was a central focus. Group sessions emphasized accountability, decision-making, and managing impulses, skills that directly translate to the classroom. Darin also participated in activities that strengthened problem-solving and self-reflection, helping him understand how his choices could affect his future.

Family Forward

Family involvement played a key role in his progress. Through visits and family sessions, Darin’s foster mother stayed engaged, reinforcing new routines and expectations he would carry home.

“Turning Point helps families get through a stressful situation, but it’s critical the whole family stays involved in our work so changes actually stick when kids return home,” explains Jean-Michele.

By the time Darin prepared to leave Turning Point, he had gained more than short-term stability. He left with practical skills, renewed confidence, and a clearer path forward, ready to re-engage with school and rebuild trust at home.

*Name and likeness changed for privacy purposes.

About Turning Point

Turning Point is a short-term crisis intervention and stabilization program for youth in foster care ages 10 to 17. Designed as a safe, home-like alternative to hospitalization, the program helps youth and families navigate moments of crisis while preventing placement disruptions.

Turning Point offers intensive mental health support, including psychiatric services, individual and group therapy, and structured daily routines that promote stability and healthy coping skills. Family involvement is central to the program, with counseling and personalized support focused on strengthening relationships and supporting successful reunification. The program is available to foster families throughout Texas.