Steve and Esmeralda Hall weren’t able to have biological children, but they had a lot of love to give a child. The Lancaster, Calif., couple began the foster-to-adopt process. The Halls were very interested in fostering a baby who had been surrendered under California’s 2006 Safely Surrendered Baby Law. The law encourages parents to surrender…
Meet our Executive Director of Foster Care and Adoption Services Leslie Oropeza is recognized for her ability to nurture relationships with our children, families and community partners. We asked her what being a Wayfinder means to her. How do you bring Wayfinder Family Services’ mission to life? I am motivated by our children growing and…
An hour east of Los Angeles, in the city of Fontana, resides a woman with an extraordinary mission. Originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, Gloria first heard about foster parenting through a friend in the late 1970s. Since then, she’s fostered around 300 children, including kids with various disabilities. “I currently have three siblings who have…
Lifting the spirits of children entering foster care They arrive at Wayfinder with little more than the clothes on their back. Some carry trash bags containing a few meager belongings. They are neglected, abused or abandoned children. In Wayfinder’s Cottage, they find solace, loving care and Hope in a Suitcase. Wayfinder is one of four…
Parker is smart, athletic and mature beyond his years. He’s a young man with a plan and a bright future ahead of him, thanks to the care and support he received in our youth residential treatment program. Parker entered foster care as a teen. The trauma he experienced leading up to him leaving his home…
Parker is smart, athletic and mature beyond his years. He’s a young man with a plan and a bright future ahead of him, thanks to the care and support he received in our children’s residential treatment program. Parker entered foster care as a young man. The trauma he experienced leading up to him leaving his…
Alex and Alicia wanted to build a family by opening their hearts to children in need of a home. So, when a family member recommended Wayfinder Family Services, the couple jumped at the opportunity to become adoptive parents. Over the following months, Alex and Alicia learned the ins and outs of being adoptive parents in…
Oscar has faced many challenges in his life. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was young, and his parents struggled to control it. Oscar was hospitalized on many occasions—as many as eight times in one month—so social workers removed him from his family due to what they considered neglect. Soon after, he…
David was small, malnourished and homeless when he came to Wayfinder. His mother had courageously handed him over to the authorities, knowing that she could not care for him. David made an impression on everyone the day that he arrived at Wayfinder’s Cottage, a transitional shelter care program offering short-term emergency care for children who…
