Canyon Acres Children and Family Successes…

Marvin's Story

Marvin has been in the child welfare system since the tender age of two when he was found knocking on the neighbors’ doors at 2 o’clock in the morning in search of food. His mother, a drug addict, wasn’t taking care of his basic needs.

When Marvin first came to Canyon Acres, it was after a failed adoption. He was only 10 years old. His self-esteem was at rock bottom and he felt as though he was not capable of making it in a family environment. The Canyon Acres staff thought differently. They saw the sweet, wonderful qualities Marvin had to share. A team of Canyon Acres staff began working with Marvin to get him the help he needed with the team goal of getting him ready for a new foster family placement.

After much thought and planning, the team approached Amanda, a newly certified foster parent who was able to provide the exact type of care Marvin needed. Amanda accepted Marvin into her home with open arms. Their personalities meshed, and it was immediately obvious that Marvin was much more comfortable living with Amanda. She was able to provide a harmonious balance of discipline, warmth and acceptance for him in an environment where he could be himself without fear of rejection. Amanda also modeled cleanliness, budgeting and personal hygiene, among other things, that were a struggle for Marvin in the past. She helped him become more self sufficient. A bonus for Marvin was that Amanda had lots of pets which he loved!

Amanda continues to go out of her way to share interests with Marvin, taking him to her friend’s auto shop and planning “Star Wars Days” with him. These are two of Marvin’s passions. It is evident that the right foster home placement has made a huge difference in Marvin’s life. Visits to the foster home find Marvin with smiles and eager to share his latest news.

At the same time that Marvin was being helped by the various Canyon Acres teams to get ready for this foster placement, the Canyon Acres’ Creating Family Connections (CFC) team was searching for his relatives. An adult second cousin and her family were found in Nevada. After the team made initial contact, a meeting was arranged. Marvin had brought a box of photos and items such as medals and awards he had won. He titled the box “My Life Story.” The cousin and her husband were hooked. They said they had been looking for Marvin, but that his mother had kept them at a distance and, after he was removed from his mother’s neglectful supervision, they didn’t know how to locate him. They were anxious to take Marvin in, care for him, and make him part of their family.

Today, the CFC team along with Marvin’s mentor, parent partner and other staff at Canyon Acres are working out the details with the state authorities in Nevada to make the transition to give Marvin a new chance with a family that will love and support him. In addition, Marvin was invited to attend a wedding in Ohio where he met over 50 relatives he never knew he had. It was quite an amazing experience for him.

Marvin has been working hard with his foster mom to get ready for the transition to live with his relatives in Nevada. He is expected to move in and become a permanent part of the family very soon. Although Marvin has been through so much in his short life, he remains a happy, easygoing, and kind young man. Marvin is a great example of someone who has overcome adversity, proving the resilience of the human spirit. And, thanks to the tireless efforts of Canyon Acres, Marvin will soon have his “Forever Family”.

Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.