Success Stories
When brothers James (5), Leon (2), and Chris (14 months) were featured on the California Kids Connection website in February 2026, their profiles quickly caught the attention of the Mills family.
The Mills family, traveled more than six hours each way to attend the Regional Exchange Family Matching Event. This gave them the opportunity to meet with the children's social worker, ask questions, and begin building the relationship that would ultimately change all of their lives.
Following several successful visits, the two older brothers moved in with the Mills family. While the transition was emotional after spending significant time with their current caregiver who was unable to adopt, it marked an important step toward the permanency they needed & deserved. Just two weeks later, their youngest brother, who had been living in a separate foster home, joined them, reuniting all three siblings under one roof.
This match required teamwork, persistence, and many miles of travel, but every effort was worth it. Today, all three brothers are growing up together in one loving, permanent home with the Mills family; a future made possible through collaboration, dedication, and the power of finding the right match.
In 2025 Austin's journey to permanency reached a joyful milestone when he was matched with the James family after many years of waiting for a family.
The family had first connected with California Kids Connection in 2015. They consistently reached out over the years to learn more about waiting youth and to explore opportunities to grow their family through adoption. Their commitment to the process never wavered.
When Austin's profile caught their attention, we worked closely together over the course of approximately six weeks to navigate the matching process. Through ongoing communication, guidance, and collaboration, the family remained engaged every step of the way as they learned more about Austin's strengths, needs, and personality.
As their confidence grew, so did their connection to Austin. What began as an inquiry soon developed into a meaningful connection, ultimately leading to Austin finding the permanent, loving family he deserved.
Austin's story is a wonderful reminder that permanency doesn't always happen overnight. Sometimes it takes years of hope, patience, and perseverance before the right family and the right child find each other. Thanks to the James family's decade-long commitment and the collaborative efforts of everyone involved, Justin now has the opportunity to thrive in the stability, love, and belonging of a forever family.
William was a young child with significant medical needs. At the time he was waiting for an adoptive family, his medical prognosis was uncertain, and doctors did not expect him to live beyond the age of five. Despite these challenges, everyone involved remained committed to finding a family that could provide him with the love, advocacy, and specialized care he deserved. That family was Jean and Mitchell Franklin.
Although their family agency was not yet licensed to work with medically fragile children, however an exception was made because of the extraordinary opportunity this presented. It was a remarkable collaboration driven by one shared goal: ensuring William had the chance to grow up in a permanent, loving family.
The Franklin’s embraced William wholeheartedly, providing not only unwavering love but also tireless advocacy and access to the specialized medical care he needed. Their commitment transformed what once seemed impossible into a story of hope and resilience.
Today, William is a thriving adult a testament to the life-changing impact that permanency, compassionate caregivers, and quality medical support can have. His story reminds us that a diagnosis does not define a child's future, and that with the right family, extraordinary outcomes are possible.
Brenda a lively 15-year-old found a committed family when she was successfully matched with the Hunter family.
The Hunter’s had been actively engaged with California Kids Connection, maintaining communication with staff and participating in Los Angeles County Family Matching Events as they searched for the right youth to welcome into their family. Their dedication and openness created the foundation for a meaningful connection with Brenda.
As the matching process unfolded, trust began to grow between Brenda and the Hunter family. Through collaboration, communication, and careful planning, what started as a potential match became the beginning of a lifelong relationship. In March 2026 Brenda began her journey to adoption with the family, marking an important step toward the permanency every young person deserves.
Brenda's story is a reminder that it is never too late for a young person to find a forever family. With patient, committed families and strong collaboration among child welfare professionals, older youth can experience the stability, belonging, and unconditional support that permanency provides.
All names used are aliases to protect the confidentiality of children and families. Some stories may be composites of multiple cases.
