By Development Team | Kidsave Staff
For thousands of children in foster care, growing up without a permanent family is a heartbreaking reality. In Texas alone, more than 10,000 children were waiting to be adopted from foster care in 2022. Many are older youth who have spent years moving from one placement to another, often believing they have been overlooked simply because of their age.
Kidsave is changing that story.
Through our Weekend Miracles program, children ages 9–17 have the opportunity to meet caring adults in relaxed, family-friendly events where authentic relationships can grow naturally. Rather than waiting to be chosen through traditional systems, these young people are seen, celebrated, and given the chance to build meaningful connections that can lead to lifelong families.
One of those children was Jada.
Jada spent nearly her entire childhood searching for a place to belong. Although she was adopted at the age of three, the home she entered lacked the love every child deserves. When that adoption disrupted, she returned to foster care, where she spent the next 14 years moving between placements before eventually living in a shelter as she approached adulthood.
Like many youth in foster care, Jada struggled with feelings of rejection and wondered if she would ever find a family who truly wanted her. She questioned her worth and whether she would ever experience the unconditional love so many children take for granted.
When Jada first heard about Kidsave's Weekend Miracles program, she was skeptical. It sounded too good to be true. But after much encouragement, she decided to attend a Meet the Kids event.
She was nervous. At 17, she was the oldest youth there and feared she had already missed her chance.
Then she met Jenilyn and Austin Flitton.
The conversation came easily, and for the first time in a long time, Jada felt genuinely seen. After the event, she overheard the couple asking about her and wondering when they would see her again. That simple moment gave her hope.
She continued attending Kidsave events, eager to spend more time with the Flittons. Their relationship grew naturally until one day they asked Jada to become part of their family.
"The moment that changed everything," Jada recalls, "was when they sat me down and told me they wanted to adopt me. They were both crying, and I was overwhelmed by how important I was to them. I cried too. For the first time, I truly felt seen, chosen, and loved."
In 2024, Jada officially became a Flitton.
Today, her future looks dramatically different. She is an honors student at Texas A&M University—a remarkable achievement considering only a small percentage of youth who experience foster care go on to attend college. More importantly, she now has the unwavering support of a family cheering her on every step of the way.
Jada hopes her story inspires others to consider opening their hearts to an older child still waiting for a family.
"Every kid deserves a family to cheer them on, to help them dream bigger, and to see the possibility inside them."
Her story is proof that it's never too late for a child to find belonging.
Your support makes these life-changing connections possible. Every donation helps Kidsave host Meet the Kids events, recruit and prepare prospective families, and provide ongoing support as relationships grow. Together, we can ensure more children like Jada are seen, chosen, and loved—because every child deserves the chance to grow up in a permanent, caring family.
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