Blog
From ASCI Caregiver to Enrichment Trainer: Christina Riley’s Kinship Care Journey
Each month, A Second Chance, Inc. (ASCI) amplifies the voices of our kinship families. As an agency committed to creating a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment for children placed in the care of relatives or close family friends—known as kinship care— we recognize the importance of delving into the lived experiences of caregivers, birth parents, and children. By doing so, we aim to glean irreplaceable insights that contribute to authentic narratives and inform meaningful programming. Through these conversations, we strive to gain insight and provide meaningful support for kinship families. This month, we had the privilege of engaging in a conversation with Christina Riley, who was once a kinship caregiver through ASCI and now serves on the team as an Enrichment Caregiver Trainer, using her experience to uplift and guide others walking a similar path.
September is Kinship Care Month which is a time to celebrate the love, resilience, and dedication of those who step up for children in times of crisis. For Christina Riley, her journey began not with preparation, but with a 4 a.m. phone call.
Her story is one of strength and love, even in the face of trials. When asked to take emergency custody of her two young grandsons, Christina didn’t hesitate. “Of course I said yes,” she recalls. That yes turned into 27 months of dedicated caregiving, navigating court hearings, visitations, and the emotional toll of helping her grandsons’ healing process. Her wife was a steadfast partner throughout, offering support, encouragement, and love every step of the way.
“I had to come to the realization that what I was doing was for them. It wasn’t against my daughter but it was for my grandsons.”
Christina Riley
Through the ups and downs, Christina found moments of joy and pride that reminded her why she said yes that early morning. One of her most cherished memories was when her grandson, just two years old, counted all the way to 20 in front of their caseworker. “I just was so excited and so proud of him. I felt like I did my job.” Her caregiving journey didn’t just shape her family, it shaped her future. Today, Christina pours her heart into training caregivers at ASCI, offering them not just education, but empathy. “Being that I was a kinship caregiver, I can sympathize with what they’re going through. I can connect with them in a different way,” she says.
“It feels great knowing that I can give back, not just to the caregivers, but to the staff who once supported me.”
Christina Riley
Community played a vital role in Christina’s caregiving, and she now pays it forward by connecting families to resources without judgment. “It doesn’t mean you’re any less of a person just because you need some assistance,” she encourages.
When asked to describe kinship care in three words, Christina chose: Loving. Support. Hard. To Christina, these words reflect the heart of kinship caregiving as an unwavering love that drives every decision, the support that sustains caregivers, often unseen work of nurturing and protecting children during times of upheaval. Each word carries the weight of her personal experience and the profound impact of saying “yes” to family when it mattered most.
“It’s not easy, but it’s rooted in love. Keep going. Take some time for self-care but keep going.”at caregivers don’t give up on the kids or on themselves.”
Christina Riley
Looking to the future, Christina hopes more families will answer the call of kinship care so that no children ever feel a day unloved. As for her, she plans to continue helping caregivers, families, and children with the same compassion and dedication that carried her through her own journey.
“My hope is that caregivers don’t give up on the kids or on themselves.”
Christina Riley
This Kinship Care Month, Christina’s story is a reminder of the power of family and unconditional love.