Success story: It was hard for her to believe that this was her new home

After her mother's death, Kateryna moved in with her biological father's family. A 13-year-old boy was already growing up there. It was a difficult change for Kateryna; she found it hard to believe that she now had a new home. Her father's wife sincerely wanted to support the girl and immediately expressed her desire to take care of her. “I didn't know how to act. I was afraid to say the wrong thing. I was afraid to take a step towards her — what if she pushed me away? What if we did something wrong? What if she never opened up?” Kateryna's guardian shares her feelings.

That's when the family turned to the Family Care Hub for help, where specialists offered comprehensive support:

Individual consultations for caregivers helped them understand that Kateryna's behavior was not capricious, but a natural reaction to change. This knowledge was the first step toward patience and acceptance.

Corrective and developmental classes for the girl created a space where she could safely express her feelings and learn to trust again.

Joint family meetings became a place for the first open communication.

A few weeks later, in the evening, Katiia approached her mother for the first time and asked, “Can I help with dinner?” The woman barely held back her tears. “Of course. Let's do it together.”

Since then, they have had a tradition in their home: every Sunday, the whole family makes varenyky. Kateryna makes them together with her younger brother; they argue, laugh, and throw flour at each other. Their parents look at them and realize that this is the family they dreamed of.

A specialist at the Family Care Hub emphasizes: "The adaptation period is a natural and temporary stage. But it can be navigated with warmth if there is support, patience, and faith in the child."

The story of Kateryna and her family is proof that even the deepest wounds can heal when there is a place of safety, time to build trust, and people who are ready to walk alongside you.

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The project "Resilient Families, Resilient Future: Transforming the Child Care System in Odesa and Mykolaiv Regions" is being implemented by the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health (UFPH) in partnership with the Odesa Regional Organization of Medical, Psychological, and Pedagogical Assistance "Healthy Society," with NGO 'Healthy Society" together with UNICEF Ukraine with the financial support of Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) through the development bank KfW.