Blog
Kinship in Action: The McCleery Story
Throughout its 25 years of programming, A Second Chance, Inc. (ASCI) has always paid special attention to the needs of older youth, many lingering in congregate care settings. In 2012, ASCI established their Stepping Into Families (SIF) program to formalize a process where kinship care caseworkers “step up” their commitment to making sure older youth in care achieve permanency with family, knowing that family is critical in preparing youth for adulthood and setting the path toward future success. What makes SIF unique is a more intense concentration on adolescent needs, recognizing the kinship dynamic of working with teens and a more intense concentration on permanency options for older youth.
It was through SIF that Brayden McCleery met Child and Family Services supervisor Lisa Marino, whose commitment lead her to go considerable lengths to reunite him with his younger brother Tyler – she was determined to make a kinship connection. After being in a group home, reconnecting with his brother and moving into a family home filled with acceptance and love has changed Brayden’s life forever. In his eyes, family means “togetherness.” His family is his safe zone.
Click this link to read the McCleerys’ full story.
