Giving Thanks for Hope & Healing
Scout (she/her), Age 17, Participant of The Chase Home Residential Program
The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving are always a mix of excitement and sadness at The Chase Home. Staff and volunteers work tirelessly to create a warm and festive atmosphere. They decorate the common areas with autumn garlands, plan a special holiday dinner, coordinate with relatives and treatment teams to help youth spend Thanksgiving in a home environment, and assist residents with their holiday wish lists.
For many youth, the season brings a mix of emotions—grief over what they’ve lost, a longing for connection, and a cautious hope for brighter days.
For Scout, this time of year felt especially heavy. She arrived at The Chase Home over a year ago after her adoptive parents decided she could no longer live with them. Scout’s past trauma often surfaced as anger and impulsivity, making her behavior challenging to manage. But even so, learning her adoptive parents wouldn’t welcome her back for Thanksgiving was deeply painful.
The rejection reminded her of the instability she’d faced for most of her life. She had been moved between homes and systems, each one promising safety but leaving her with more scars and creating more distance from her younger biological siblings. Her adoptive parents were supposed to be her safe place, the family where she could finally belong. Instead, their absence during the holidays made her feel like she was “too much” for anyone to handle.
Despite her pain, something had changed for Scout at The Chase Home. Slowly, she began to find her footing in an environment where safety wasn’t just a word but a reality. With 24/7 care and trauma-informed support, staff created a space where Scout felt seen and valued. Trust didn’t come easily to her, but over time, she realized the people around her weren’t going anywhere.
One day, Scout shared her thoughts with the clinical coordinator, Olivia Valles. “Home isn’t with my adoptive parents anymore,” she said. “My home is here, at The Chase Home. It’s where I feel cared about and supported.”
Olivia reflected on Scout’s words with the staff. “It was bittersweet to hear her say that,” she said. “But it shows how far we’ve come. The residents feel safe and cared for, and that’s where healing begins. None of this would happen without everyone’s incredible effort to create this environment.”
As Thanksgiving approached, Scout watched as the staff and residents prepared for the holiday. She saw deliveries of holiday wish list boxes from the community, acts of kindness that would make the season special for everyone at The Chase Home. Each gesture reminded Scout that she wasn’t alone, even if her adoptive family couldn’t be there.
The Chase Home wasn’t a traditional family, but it was a family in its own way. For Scout, it became a place where she could imagine a future beyond her pain and start preparing for adulthood. Thanksgiving might not look like it had in her dreams, but it would be filled with people who genuinely cared about her—a home in the truest sense.
Give youth the gift of hope and healing:
While names and story lines have been changed to protect the identities, Scout’s story is very real for many youths we are seeing in our residential program. For many young people in the family and foster care system, the holidays bring a mix of emotions—grief over the past, hope for the future, and a longing for connection. At The Chase Home, we strive to provide more than a safe place; we create a home where healing begins and brighter tomorrows are possible.
This holiday season, you can make a difference. Support youth like Scout by making an end-of-year gift to The Chase Home or contributing to our residents’ Holiday Wish List. Together, we can ensure every young person feels valued, supported, and cared for.