FWBCH: A Place to Belong

As the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home celebrates 105 years of providing for youth and families, meet Danny, a young adult in our Thrive Independent Living program.

Danny lived in an orphanage in a foreign country until he was 8 years old.

He never knew his parents or any family members; he was all alone in the

world. In that orphanage, Danny was just one of many children in need. It wasn’t a situation where he was loved a nd supported. Only his very basic needs were met and there wasn’t a family structure present.

At 8 years old Danny was adopted by an American couple and brought to North Carolina to live with their family. He struggled to fit into their family, he didn’t understand family dynamics and how to interact with others. This was all so new and confusing to him. He began misbehaving, in his words, because he didn’t know how families were supposed to function. Danny felt like he didn’t fit in with his new family’s biological children and felt as though he was treated differently than them.

After one year, his adoptive family made the decision to dissolve the adoption, and Danny was placed in the foster care system. At nine years old, Danny had gone from never having a family to losing his new family. His world was again a new and scary place, one Danny was struggling to find his place in. Shortly after this, Danny went to live with a foster mom and remained there until he completed high school. Danny’s foster mom loved and supported him. She taught him about true family, and he still remains in contact with her today.

After completing high school Danny joined Job Corp, but learning disabilities kept this from being a good fit for him. When Danny moved into an apartment in our Thrive program he was lost and very guarded. What would this hold? Would he fit in? Now, almost one year later, Danny is surrounded by love and support. Thrive Director Chris Coleman coaches him weekly about where he wants to be in life. He is getting the support he needs to become an independent adult. Danny has become more open, he knows he has found additional family in the Thrive program and is no longer lonely.

The Thrive Independent Living program focuses on young adults, ages 18 and up, who are transitioning out of the foster care system. Youth like Danny often do not have a support network to help them navigate successful independent adulthood. They are more likely to experience homelessness, lack basic medical care, and have a higher rate of suicide than their peers in traditional homes. We seek to change the narrative by walking alongside these young adults. We offer a dedicated coach for them, as well as classes in financial

literacy, career-minded employment, and help them obtain a higher level of education. The goal of Thrive is to help them become successful, thriving adults. Will you help these young people by partnering with us?