Program Highlight: La Jornada

Maria’s Story

6-year-old unaccompanied Maria*, a child from Honduras, was referred to NYAP’S La Jornada program after her “alleged” parents were determined to not be her biological parents but were actually perpetrators of abuse and labor exploitation. Maria reported that she was a victim of sexual abuse by relatives, forced labor, and neglect by caregivers in her home country. Due to the previous abuse she suffered at the hands of her family, her potential sponsors were deemed ineligible.

Because of NYAP’s advocacy and commitment to the safety and well-being of children in care, and in collaboration with the leadership of the Office of Refugee and Resettlement (ORR), it was decided that it would be in Maria’s best interest to live with her Foster Parents permanently, who were approved to become her sponsors. During her stay with NYAP, Maria began to heal from her trauma, demonstrating significant improvement in her behavior. She learned to establish healthy friendships and engage age appropriately with other children in the La Jornada program. She learned how to establish healthy boundaries in her relationships with adults and is able to identify healthy ways of keeping herself safe from abuse and harm. Maria consistently reported feeling happy and safe in NYAP’s care and is doing extraordinary with her new family. Maria was discharged to her sponsors (former foster parents) after 447 days in foster care, making her case a first in ORR’s history.

*Child’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.