Why Connection Matters During a Crisis

A crisis has a way of shrinking the world to the next decision, the next phone call, or the next moment that must be endured. In those moments, the reassuring presence of a trusted person can make an enormous difference, even before that person can physically be present.

A young mother connected with Fostering Hope experienced complications during pregnancy and required an urgent cesarean delivery. Her coordinator, who was also a doula, stayed with her by phone throughout the uncertainty, offering reassurance and helping her feel less alone. Then, as soon as she could, the coordinator traveled to Denver to support the young mother in person.

The phone calls did not remove the medical emergency, nor could her coordinator immediately be in the room. But they provided something essential until she arrived: connection. The young mother knew there was someone who understood her, cared about what was happening, and would remain with her through the experience.

For young adults who have experienced foster care, crises can carry additional weight. Past experiences may have taught them that adults leave, relationships are temporary, or help disappears when circumstances become complicated. A consistent response from a trusted adult begins to tell a different story.

At Fostering Hope, relational support is not limited to scheduled appointments or office hours. Coordinators and volunteers build trust over time so that, when a difficult moment comes, a young person knows whom to call. That relationship can help someone slow down, consider choices, advocate for a need, or simply find the courage to take the next step.

This is also why we stay with young adults beyond a single milestone. Earning a diploma, finding housing, starting a job, or welcoming a baby does not eliminate the need for family-like support. Adulthood continues to bring unfamiliar situations, and none of us was meant to navigate every one alone.

Your support helps ensure young adults have more than resources. It helps them build relationships they can count on when life becomes frightening, complicated, or uncertain.