This column relates accounts of family engagement by a nonprofit working to keep families together while avoiding child welfare involvement. The names of parents and children have been changed.
The day Darren was released from prison, he checked his phone and found a message that changed everything. A child welfare case manager had contacted him through Facebook messenger to tell him he might have a daughter named Naomi, and asked if he wanted to pursue legal legitimacy. Darren did not hesitate. He went straight to the courthouse to begin the process of reunification.
After establishing his paternity, Darren completed every step the judge required. He attended visits and parenting classes, stayed in regular contact with his caseworker, secured full-time employment, and found stable housing. He had stopped selling drugs and was committed to building a stable life where he could be the father he had always hoped to become. After years of surviving trauma and incarceration, he finally had someone to live for.
When Naomi came home, Darren was ready, and at first, things went well. Naomi, who is now 9 years old, was enrolled in school and started tennis lessons at a nearby academy. Darren was working, and together they settled into a routine. They cooked meals at home, watched movies, and talked about Naomi’s goals. Darren had cut ties with friends who were still using drugs. He no longer had the people he once relied on, and with no family nearby, he was completely on his own. Over time, the isolation began to wear on him. Parenting alone, without friends or support, became increasingly difficult.
The weight of unresolved trauma from his past started to surface, and Darren began drinking again. His job performance declined, and eventually, he lost his job. Without income, Darren could not afford rent and soon found himself homeless, sleeping in his car. He refused to let Naomi sleep in the car with him, so he contacted Naomi’s former foster parents and asked if she could stay with them temporarily. They agreed.
Even while living in his vehicle, Darren remained fully committed to caring for Naomi. Every afternoon, he picked her up from school and made sure she never missed a tennis practice. With the little money he had, he covered her lessons and bought what she needed for school and sports. Darren did everything he could to keep Naomi in a predictable routine, even as his own life was falling apart.
By October 2024, he was running out of money, out of options, and out of hope. Desperate to keep custody of his daughter, Darren reached out to a trusted community partner who is part of the coordinated entry system for shelter programs in Cobb County, Georgia. This partner is a vital part of our broader ecosystem of support — a network of organizations that provide rapid, coordinated responses for families experiencing a crisis.
Darren explained that he was overwhelmed, exhausted, and afraid of losing Naomi again. Within hours of receiving the referral, we called Darren and connected him to immediate resources. At the time, he had no food, no gas in his car, and no safe place to stay. That same day, we paid for a hotel so Darren and Naomi could stay together. We also provided grocery and gas gift cards to help Darren maintain Naomi’s school and tennis schedule while we worked with him on a longer plan. Later that week, Darren visited our family resource center where he picked up food, clothing, hygiene kits, school supplies, and cleaning products. We also provided department store gift cards so he could purchase specific items Naomi needed for school and sports.
Darren began meeting regularly with one of our coaches and focused on finding permanent housing. Coaching became a steady source of support, providing both problem-solving and emotional encouragement. His coach helped him develop a clear plan with SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) and created space for Darren to process his fears, setbacks, and small victories.
Within a few days, Darren and Naomi were accepted into a transitional housing program, but the apartment presented significant challenges. It was an older unit that needed repairs, and there were ongoing problems with bugs and occasional rodents. Despite the difficult conditions, Darren continued to push forward with his goals.
As Darren worked toward securing permanent housing, he began to open up to his coach. He shared that after reunification, he had started drinking again but had been too ashamed to tell anyone. He explained that he no longer had sober friends and felt completely alone. Darren and his coach focused on building a stronger, more connected support system. We connected Darren to a local 12-step recovery group, which he began attending right away. Around the same time, he started participating in our Family Cafés — monthly gatherings where parents come together to build community, share experiences, and support each other.
At the Family Café, Darren met Ebonie, one of our apprentices, along with other parents who had faced similar struggles. For the first time, Darren was no longer carrying his challenges alone. He had found people who understood him, believed in him, and genuinely wanted him to succeed. Through these relationships, Darren began to find hope, healing, and the courage to dream again.
Less than a month after his referral, Darren was approved for a two-bedroom apartment. A partner agency that furnishes homes for families coming out of homelessness, and is a vital part of our ecosystem, provided furniture for the unit. Our family resource center stocked the home with food, bedding, kitchenware, and other essentials. Darren and Naomi finally had a safe place to call home.
Just as life began to stabilize, Darren was in a car crash that totaled his vehicle. Without transportation, he was at risk of losing his job and slipping back into crisis. Darren called Ebonie, who immediately stepped in to help him get to work and stay connected. Darren was no longer just participating in our programs. He had become part of a real community where support was mutual and where families show up for each other when life is unpredictable.
Darren was able to buy another car and kept working. Naomi stayed in school and continued to excel in tennis. That spring, she was selected to compete in an international tournament. Darren was proud but unsure how he would afford the trip. We shared their story with a longtime donor, who covered the full cost. Darren stayed focused on his recovery, his work, and his daughter. A few months later, he was promoted to a leadership role at his company. He began referring other parents from our programs to open jobs, helping them apply and assisting them through the process.
In April 2025, Darren joined our apprentice program. He now participates in monthly leadership training and is co-designing a peer support group for single fathers. He will co-lead the group with two other apprentices who, like him, know what it feels like to lose your way and fight to find it again. Darren is stably housed, and Naomi is thriving — in school, in tennis, and at home. Darren is no longer just surviving. He is leading with love and building a future not only for his daughter, but for other men who need support to become the fathers they always hoped they could be.
