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Florida — “Before adoption, I felt overwhelmed … like I was going to be in foster care forever,” De’Undre shared.

After experiencing neglect and exposure to violence, De’Undre was placed in foster care and spent most of that time in a group home.

When he was referred to the Foundation’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids^® program, his recruiter, Zaria, was dedicated to finding him a safe, loving and permanent home.

Using a child-focused recruitment model, the search begins within the child’s network of family, including extended family members, friends and others who already care for them and can meet their needs.  This allowed Zaria to explore existing connections in De’Undre’s life that weren’t fully pursued when he entered foster care.

By working through the steps of the model and building a relationship with De’Undre, Zaria learned that Grandma Renee was a special person in his life.

Zaria arranged for De’Undre and Grandma Renee to spend time together on weekends. That time together deepened their bond and allowed Renee to reconnect De’Undre with other family members.

It was clear to Zaria how much Renee cared about De’Undre, and they began talking about what the adoption process would involve.

“This was a long journey but having Zaria along the way made it a bit less stressful. She has a great relationship with De’Undre and somehow can get through to him when no one else can,” Renee said. “She is very relatable and made us feel comfortable.”

When Renee moved to a larger apartment where De’Undre could have a bedroom of his own, he was able to move in.

“The day he moved in was unforgettable,” Zaria shared. “He wasn’t just reuniting with family, but he was experiencing the joy of having his very first bedroom.”

With help from the Foundation’s caring supporters, De’Undre was adopted by his grandmother at age 14.

De’Undre loves having a space of his own and spending time in the kitchen, learning to cook with his grandma. He is continuing to build relationships with the rest of his family too, including his siblings.

“We go to holiday gatherings and birthday parties together. These were events that he missed for the past few years since he was in foster care. Now, he gets to spend quality time with his family and get to know them,” Renee said.

“The most positive change I have seen in De’Undre is that he is more open now. When he stayed at the group home, I would call and talk to him and visit him, but he would be closed off. He did not like to talk much. Now, he talks my ear off,” Renee said with a laugh. “And he laughs a lot more. He seems much happier than he was before.”

De’Undre added that living with his grandma has made him feel more at ease. “I feel like I do not have anything to worry about now. I can focus on my future,” he shared. “It feels great knowing I’m going to be here forever.”

“De’Undre is reserved. Yet with his grandmother, he is open, trusting and secure. The excitement I saw from both De’Undre and his grandmother confirmed that this was the right match,” Zaria said.

“When kids can be with relatives or close family friends, they are able to hold onto their identity, culture and history.  It’s not just about having a home;  it’s about being surrounded by people who already know them, love them and can share stories about where they come from. That connection makes the transition to permanency feel less like starting over and more like finding their way back home,” she added.

“Family means everything to me,” De’Undre said. “You’re used to your family, and those are the ones that are going to be there for you.”

If you have room in your home or in your heart, you can help a child, like De’Undre, waiting for a family right now. Explore ways to get involved and join our caring community that makes stories like these possible.