Kristy Young, left, and her husband, Justen Young, embrace their sons inside the Families First Center this week in South Bend. SBT Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN
SOUTH BEND -- Justen and Kristy Young of Mishawaka visit the Families First Center twice a week to reconnect with their 2-year-old and 7-year-old sons. The boys live together in a foster home and their parents’ time with them currently is limited to 10 hours each week.
The Youngs have been coming to Families First for nearly15 months, and recently gained four additional visitation hours.
“I was a little hesitant at first but it has grown on me,” Kristy said of the process.
Interacting with her own children with another adult looking on was weird at first, she said, but now she hardly notices. Justen added that he has come to know the Families First staff.
“This is not comfortable for the parents or the children so we try to make it as comfortable as possible,” said Linda Rohm, who will retire as the center’s executive director on Sept. 12.
Families First Center serves as a safe meeting place for parents and their children who’ve been placed by welfare authorities for a variety of reasons in foster homes, with relatives or with a single one of their parents. The Indiana Department of Child Services manages each family’s case.
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