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Stories

Read the stories from adoptive families and youth who have experienced foster care.

Finding Forever: Megan, Ben, and Kimberly's Journey to Family

Megan and Ben’s journey to adoption began in an unexpected but beautiful way. Longtime friends who lived in different locations, they reconnected during the pandemic and soon realized that their connection was deeper than friendship. As they planned...

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The Cunningham-Elder Family

In the last five years alone, the number of kids in foster care waiting to be adopted has doubled. Half of them are sibling groups and children of...

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The Nogueras Family

Mary and José Nogueras are the proud, energetic, and patient parents of five children. They own a pottery studio down the Cape and are strongly...

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The Santana Family

Every year, approximately 25,000 teenagers transition out of foster care without the support of a family. Marisol once believed she would be part of...

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Wyman Family

In a world where family stories are as diverse as the colors in a crayon box, the Wyman family's tale is an extraordinary one that has unfolded over...

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Curran Family

All children are deserving of a permanent, loving family. However, children in foster care with unique emotional, physical, and intellectual needs...

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Perkins Family

The first time the Perkins family met their son Josiah, the day was filled with hugs, soccer, and lots of happy tears. Alex, Katy, and their son...

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Daley Family

Josian was part of a big family, and because of that, she knew that she wanted to be a parent along with her husband, Denzil. Apart from having an...

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Sepulveda Family

Shelly and Tami Sepulveda’s journey of starting a family began in the hospital, not unlike any other family’s story begins. At the time, both of them...

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Ecker Family

Not unlike any other New England family, the Ecker’s enjoy trips to Cape Cod during the summer, going to the beach, and looking out for any...

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Puhala-Kenney Family

Kimberly and JoAnne laugh a lot – especially with their daughter, Kloee. “Sit back and chill-ax,” seems to be a recurring motto in the Puhala-Kenney...

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Noonan Family

Maria and Kevin Noonan were enjoying a relaxing vacation when they got a call from their social worker. “You know, we got a little boy in our office...

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Thompson-Crowder Family

Most parents think that their job of parenting is more or less over once their children reach adulthood. There isn’t much stress; they don’t have to...

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The Cavanaugh Family

As a 14-year-old in the foster care system, Heather faced increasingly difficult odds of finding an adoptive family. In retrospect, Heather believes...

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Laina and Mike's Weekend Family Connections Story

Laina Julier and Mike Albert are one of the first host families for MARE's Weekend Family Connections program. The program, which families commit to...

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Gidwaney Family

The Gidwaney family’s adoption journey began decades ago, thousands of miles away in an Indian village when Sanjli Gidwaney was only eight years old....

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Maldonado-Norton Family

For Angel and Leonard, growing their family through adoption was never a matter of if, it was always a matter of when. After 16 years together, the...

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