Nexus, a national nonprofit organization that provides mental health services to youth and families, is changing its name to Nexus Family Healing. For more than 45 years, Nexus has focused on rebuilding lives, reconnecting families and restoring hope for youth and families suffering from mental, emotional and behavioral issues. Moving forward, Nexus Family Healing will fulfill that purpose with a new name, a refreshed brand, greater integration of its services, and a talented new leadership team led by Dr. Michelle K. Murray, LMFT, President and CEO.
Frank* and Roxanne* are a blended family with 6 adult children between them. They live on a farm with many animals - horses, chickens, peacocks, cats, dogs, a donkey and a steer.
They decided to be foster parents after receiving a cup from Nexus-PATH and using it as a conversation starter over morning coffee. Like most major decisions go, they found themselves attempting to talk themselves out of it, then back in. But in the end, they thought if they can help one child's life be better, it was worth it. Maybe they should just give it a shot. At least they know they tried.
At the age of 13, Nate started going to parties with older kids where he was introduced to and saw all sorts of things. He was living with his schizophrenic mother and Nate felt the need to keep his activities outside of the home to himself. As the eldest of five kids and no father figure in his life, he had free reign to go out and do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted to do it.
Did you know foster parents can be single or married, parents or grandparents, young or old? They can have children of their own or no children at all. They can have dreams of adopting or just a desire to help kids who need it.
In other words, foster parents look just like you.
All you need to become a foster parent is an extra bedroom, a commitment to a child’s safety, and the willingness to invest in their future.
Melissa made the decision to donate to Nexus in honor of a friend of hers who spent a portion of his childhood in a foster home. As she began to learn more about his experiences growing up, and started to do some of her own mental health work, she understand how much early childhood trauma carries with us into adulthood and shapes how we handle conflict and relationships with other people throughout our lives.