Because of You, Leah Found Her Forever Family

Leah entered foster care at age ten after her mother’s mental health challenges escalated, making it no longer safe for her to remain at home. While foster care provided immediate physical safety, the stability she needed to heal was still out of reach.

Her first two placements were brief, and by the time she moved in with her third resource family, Leah had become understandably withdrawn. She struggled in school, often pulled away when adults tried to connect with her, and lived with heightened anxiety and hypervigilance.

Everything began to change when Leah was placed with the Thompson family through Casa Pacifica’s Foster Family Agency (FFA). Jeff and April Thompson, already parents to a son, knew they wanted to offer Leah more than a placement; they wanted to offer her a forever home. With guidance from Casa Pacifica’s FFA team, they received specialized training and ongoing support designed to help resource parents care for children impacted by trauma.

Working closely with a family support counselor, the Thompsons learned trauma-informed parenting strategies, including how to help Leah regulate overwhelming emotions, recognize trauma responses, and respond with patience and consistency when she withdrew or shut down. That coaching gave them both practical tools and the confidence to stay steady as Leah slowly began to trust.

At the same time, Leah began working with her own therapist, who helped her process experiences of loss and fear at her own pace. Gradually, she learned skills to manage anxiety and began to feel safer in the world around her.

With consistent support at home, school, and in therapy, change began to take root. Leah joined a small after-school gardening club, where caring for plants and spending time outdoors became grounding and restorative. She formed friendships, and teachers noticed steady improvements in both her engagement and academic work. At home, she also began to open up more, slowly letting herself be part of family life—including building a growing bond with her adoptive brother.

Now 13, Leah still finds joy in gardening with her friends and continues in therapy as she grows and heals. Like many teenagers, she still faces challenges—but she no longer faces them alone. Over the summer, Leah’s adoption by the Thompson family was finalized, making her a permanent part of the home she had come to trust and rely on.

“Leah came to us carrying a lot of fear and uncertainty. We knew being her forever family meant it would take time for her to open up,” April shares. “What we’ve learned through Casa Pacifica is how to meet her where she is, without pressure. Watching her slowly reveal herself, find joy in simple things like gardening, and begin to feel like she belongs in our home has been one of the greatest privileges of our lives.”

Stories like Leah’s are only possible because of the compassion and generosity of donors like you. Your support ensures that children and families have access to the training, clinical care, and ongoing guidance they need—not just to find safety, but to achieve lasting stability, healing, and the permanence of a true family.