50% of foster parents quit in the first year.
Our partner Carmen Vigil wants to help beat this statistic. Carmen founded Home Austin on the key principles that every child deserves a safe place to call home. Home Austin exists to be a safety and comfort for both families who foster and children placed in the foster care system.
The work Carmen is doing is so important. We are ecstatic that she is our first full partner highlight in 2022!
What is Home Austin?
We are an organization that exists to walk alongside all those involved in foster care. The ultimate goal is always family reunification when possible. Our desire is to bridge that in-between gap while families work through their service plans.
What all do you do to help families who foster and the children in their care?
We’ve been a licensed foster home for about 4 and a half years. In that time we’ve been able to walk alongside 5 families in a deep and personal way. During placement that looks like loving their children well while honoring them as their parents and connecting with them.
Post-placement, we love being a support for families when they need help, because raising children is no easy feat. This year we will be opening up a Parents Day Out Program that will provide trauma-informed childcare. Foster families will be offered scholarships to attend our program.
To serve biological families and their children we will be redoing visit rooms. Visit rooms are spaces in CPS offices where parents and children go to to continue their bonds. Currently, these spaces feel very much like an office building. Our hope is to make them a more homelike environment that will help facilitate deep connections.
What can you tell us about your personal experience in foster care that molded the vision for Home Austin?
There’s a lot I can’t share to protect my kiddos’ stories, but foster care has been the hardest-best blessing ever. I am one of very few young and single foster parents. I first started this journey at 21 after I felt the Lord calling me to foster and I would describe the last 4 and a half years as a roller coaster ride. Each kiddo and case is so vastly different. I’m in the business of carrying some heavy stories a lot of which are generations deep. I’ve seen more brokenness than I thought possible, and I’ve only scratched the surface.
What is one thing that surprised you about being a foster parent?
I always knew I’d love my kids… I’ve always loved children’s ministry and the kids I nannied for but the bond I have with my foster loves is deeper than anything I’ve ever felt. And the love I have for their parents is unmatched. My heart just keeps growing and it’s incredible.
What is a common foster care misconception?
Oh, I could say so many!! The first misconception that comes to mind though is a phrase I hear a lot “how could someone ever do such horrible things to that precious baby?”
Typically, this phrase is said without anyone knowing even one ounce of the parent’s story. I’d really like everyone to know that whole terrible things are happening so much of what I see is generational trauma.
Often times it’s substance abuse that is masking unmet childhood wounds. Other times it’s parents not knowing how to parent because they weren’t properly parented. I love saying, “it could’ve been me or you.” When you look at our families with that lens it truly changes you.
Your page says that there’s a lot happening with foster care in Austin, Texas. Can you tell us one of the things Texas has done to improve the foster care system and another thing that you hope to see improved?
There’s a lot happening in the sense that many organizations are finding niches of how to help in the foster care crisis. However, there are still holes of unmet needs. As far as Texas improving foster care it currently feels like the help is hindering. It’s not a political debate here, we have children sleeping in offices and the current “solutions” aren’t really solutions at all. There’s a lot of work to be done here. It starts with more families signing up to foster.
If Home Austin was to expand and had no financial limitations, what would that look like?
Mmmm. Such a fun experience to dream with Jesus. Our big goals include opening a daycare and school specifically designed to meet children where they’re at before we worry about being perfect at school. We also would love to have a home big enough to accept emergency placements. There are sooo many other things we’d love to do but those have always been the constant ones.
Tell us about a personal experience with your ministry that has stuck with you?
When a parent says something along the lines of there’s no other foster parent like you or I was so scared my baby was going somewhere horrible we are so grateful for you. I won’t share my whole story here but for my whole life foster care was this scary monster looming over my head. To hear that for at least our families we are making it less daunting warms my heart.
What is your hope for the families and children that will be helped by the work you’re doing?
Wholeness and restoration. That the families we walk alongside biological families and foster families would be safe spaces. And that we’d help beat the statistic of 50% of foster parents quitting in the first year.
How have you seen yourself change and grow since founding Home Austin?
I am much better at speaking up for injustices. I used to be a quiet people pleaser. More and more I’m finding my voice.
How can we pray for you?
For longevity, patience, and doors to start opening. We really believe in what Jesus is doing would love to see His plans come to fruition.
How can someone support Home Austin?
If you’re in Austin and want to volunteer we could use your help! You can send an email to team@homeaustinfosters.org. Financial help is also a wonderful way to support us. My goal is to be full-time with Home Austin and loving on my foster kiddos. Donations allow for us to continue what we have been doing and to keep growing!
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