Research has long suggested that child abuse is known to repeat itself from one generation to the next. A goal from the very beginning of Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries’s existence is to replace those generational cycles of abuse and neglect with cycles of success. Success as a parent, a spouse, an employee, a community member, etc.
We’ve shared many of those success stories with you in the past. Yet we’ve never had one quite like this.
One of our Family Advocates, Lorenzo Scott, and his wife Jolanda worked at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries as Home Parents from 2009-2011. During their time here, they cared for Brandi, an independent and “sweet as pie” young girl. Lorenzo recalls her as being very nurturing to other children and working hard to achieve goals. At summer camp, she won the “I am Third” award, recognizing her as someone that put God first, others second, and herself third.
Brandi said when she arrived at Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries at age 14, she wasn’t great at communicating her feelings. That changed when Jolanda began writing to her in a journal. Brandi still uses journaling today to express herself.
She also remembers coloring with Lorenzo when she was sick. One recent evening, Brandi sent Lorenzo a picture that he had colored for her to let him know she was thinking of him. She says that she never had a stable father figure in her life until Lorenzo. Looking at the picture he colored for her 10 years ago caused her to reflect on that.
“It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to give back what was given to me,” Brandi said.
This September, Brandi reached out to Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries about becoming licensed as a respite care provider. In doing so, Brandi hopes to provide unconditional love, faith, and a stable environment for children.
Through a fortunate turn of events, her former foster dad is now the person helping her to become a foster parent! Lorenzo has been helping her through the licensing paperwork and will be the instructor for her upcoming respite training session.
Lorenzo is confident Brandi will offer a child in her care the same support, nurture, and concern she offers to her natural children, for whatever length of time she has them.
“Brandi has a maturity that is rare in young adults, and she understands the emotional struggles of being in care,” Lorenzo said. “Empathy will be her strength.”
Brandi is on track to be a licensed respite provider by the end of October. She plans to take the STARS training in 2021, to become a fully licensed foster parent.
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