Carmen’s Story

For Carmen, life took a sudden turn when she lost her husband unexpectedly. As a single mother in Austin, Texas, Carmen found herself in the midst of deep grief, struggling with the weight of caring for her two children, Alex and Maya. With no stable income, no permanent home, and her children placed in foster care, Carmen faced an uphill battle. But through it all, her love for her children kept her fighting.

The children had already been through so much—moving homes, changing schools, and the uncertainty of not knowing when they’d be back with their mom. Carmen’s heart ached to have them in her arms again, but she knew she needed to heal first. This was the only way she could rebuild the stable, loving home her children deserved.

Supporting Carmen’s Path to Reunification

Using ThriveWell’s assessment tool, Carmen’s Welfare Advocate evaluated Carmen’s situation, identifying her strengths and areas where she needed support. The challenges were clear: she needed to work through her grief, find stable housing, and find a steady income. Our goal was to help Carmen rebuild her life step by step so she could create the safe environment her children needed to thrive.

Carmen’s Welfare Advocate then used ThriveWell’s suggested interventions to create a plan specific to Carmen and her needs. Carmen worked through her grief and was introduced to a support group that has now become a key part of her community.  But this was only the beginning of Carmen’s journey.

Next, we focused on helping her find housing that would not only provide Carmen with a fresh start but also allow her children to stay in their current school, where they already had a good community. We were able to help Carmen secure an affordable home near the school, where she and her children could begin the next chapter of their lives together.

Finally, Carmen found a stable job—one that provided her with the income needed to care for her family. With housing secured, and job in place, Carmen was finally ready to reunite with her children.

The Family Reunites

Reunification was a slow but steady process. At first, Carmen’s visits with Maya and Alex were supervised, but as she continued to make progress, they moved to unsupervised visits and eventually to overnight stays. Each milestone was a testament to Carmen’s hard work and dedication to becoming the mother she knew she could be.

Last month, just in time for Alex’s favorite holiday, Halloween, the family was officially reunited. Carmen’s children were back home, and together, they began creating new memories—ones filled with love, stability, and hope for the future.

Today, Carmen, Maya, and Alex are together again, a family united through determination, love, and the right support at the right time. Miracle Foundation’s work didn’t just help Carmen overcome her challenges—it gave her the tools to create a better future for her children, one full of hope and possibility.

Names, images, and minor details have been changed to protect the anonymity of the family.