How We Walk With Families in Foster Care

Tiyana has been a Program Manager at Friends of the Children New York for about a year and a half, but her journey with youth and families started long before that. She originally set out to become a lawyer, but a friend introduced her to social work—and something clicked. She wanted to work with children, and through her graduate studies in child advocacy and policy, she found herself working directly with youth at a foster care agency.

As a case planner, Tiyana saw how complicated and emotionally heavy the system could be. Parents had to complete a long checklist—parenting classes, supervised visits, drug tests—within strict court timelines to avoid losing their rights. “It was very structured, very business-like,” she says. Kids would cycle through placements and case planners—sometimes as many as six.

What stuck with her most was how disconnected the process could feel. “It often felt like we were working against families instead of with them,” she says. That started to shift when a foster parent she worked with told her about Friends of the Children New York. The model—long-term, relationship-based, and focused on stability—was completely different from what she’d experienced.

Now, in her role at Friends of the Children, she supports mentors who stay with youth year after year, building consistent, trusting relationships. “We’re not here to fix families,” Tiyana says. “We’re here to work hand-in-hand with them.”

She sees the difference it makes in families like Ms. Makeba’s—a mom of five who’s built a strong, supportive relationship with her children’s mentors. Her story is proof that we’re not just helping kids, but empowering our caregivers as well.

During Foster Care Awareness Month, Tiyana wants people to understand that youth in care are navigating more than most of us will ever see. They’re dealing with stigma, constant change, and sometimes a system that doesn’t always act in their best interest. Having one adult who shows up, no matter what—that can change a life.

Her advice? “Just be kind.”