By Jessica Prescott | Weekend Miracles Project Leader
In 2008, when Rodney and Marie met Kaprea, a California foster youth, they considered adopting her but couldn't because they did not live in her county. A year later, they learned about Kidsave and its “Weekend Miracles” program. Weekend Miracles enables foster youth and potential parents to meet and get to know each other through twice-monthly visits. Maria and Rodney nearly fainted when they learned that Kaprea was in this program – and they could join it and get to know her!
They signed up, and within weeks met Kaprea again.Rodney said it “felt like a first date – with a county social worker as a chaperone!” Kaprea was shy but she engaged in conversation. After their second meeting, she hugged Maria. On their third meeting, they introduced her to their teenage daughter and the two girls clicked right away.
Marie, Rodney and their daughter quickly became Kaprea’s Weekend Miracles host family, and they soon realized they wanted to make her part of their family permanently. Kaprea liked them, but was cautious about getting too close because she was worried about leaving her friends in Los Angeles.
Over the summer, she visted for a week, and the all took a trip to San Francisco. Kaprea asked if she could spend more weekends with Rodney and Marie, and began to make friends in their neighborhood. After seven months, she decided that she was ready to be adopted, and in 2009 she moved in. Her adoption was finalized in 2011. Today, six years later, Kaprea is very close to her family, spends a lot of time with them and says she feels lucky to have them. She is self-supporting and happy -- with a young son. Thanks to Kidsave and the Weekend Miracles Program, Kaprea has the guidance, support, and stability every young person deserves.
Kaprea is one of more than 250 youth who have participated in Weekend Miracles program, and 75% have been matched for adoption, guardianship or committed mentoring since 2006 .It can take months for foster youth to trust when they have often been let down by adults, but this Weekend Miracles model -- the "slow dance" -- works!
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