From Honduras to the Stars: A former foster youth’s journey

Suamhirs Rivera’s journey from Honduras was not an easy road. Leaving his mother behind, he made his way to the United States at the age of 14. Suamhirs found a relative, hoping that this would be his place of permanence. What he found was just as abusive as living with his father.

Suamhirs entered the Child Welfare Services system in July 2007. He was subsequently assigned to Residential Services. His assigned social worker determined that this youth needed some kind of familial connection and referred Suamhirs to the Family Finding program. Family Finding was able to locate Suamhirs’ paternal aunt in Miami, Florida and assisted in engaging Suamhirs with his relative. In addition, Family Finding also assisted him with maintaining frequent contact with his mother in Honduras.

When Suamhirs emancipated from CWS in January 2009, he moved into the New Alternatives-Transitional Housing Program-Plus (NA-THP-+). Suamhirs is actively involved in outreach projects with the NA-THP+ Executive Board and has recently been elected as their Vice President. Through THP+, Suamhirs was given the opportunity to attend the California Coalition for Youth Conference held in Sacramento in March 2009. During this conference, Suamhirs was invited to speak to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and conduct a 30-minute interview. Suamhirs took this opportunity to ask the Governor how he plans to get kids in foster care reunited with family sooner. Reportedly, the Governor did not have an answer but that he would look into putting that issue on his agenda.

Suamhirs is also a youth speaker for Voices for Children. Being a speaker has provided Suamhirs with an outlet to discuss his experiences as a former foster child on a local, state and national level. In April 2009, he was invited to speak at the National Convention for CASAs in Denver, Colorado.

With the support of Just In Time, an organization that assists former foster youth, Suamhirs was given the opportunity to meet and visit his paternal aunt in Miami, Florida. Suamhirs credits the Family Finding program for being able to find his relatives and is very appreciative for this life-long connection.

Suamhirs is an inspiration to social workers and to the foster youth that are served by CWS. Despite all of the challenges he faced, Suamhirs took advantage of the resources that were offered and showed us all what perseverance can do. 11 placements and 3 psychiatric hospitalizations later, Suamhirs has successfully transitioned to a THP-Plus home, is employed, will be completing his GED, and has become an advocate for foster youth.