Lucas

Lucas is five and a half. He hasn't yet found all the words he needs, but he has found the laugh — a huge one, inherited from a mother he doesn't get to see as often as either of them would like.

Lucas' case is a kinship placement, with a working plan toward reunification. His aunt is his foster parent. The family is doing the slow, patient work of building back what an earlier chapter took.

He dances to any song with a beat. He shares his snacks unprompted. He just said his first complete sentence in speech therapy — his SLP recorded it on her phone to play for his aunt.

Talk clearly enough that grownups understand him the first time. Start pre-K with the kids down the street. Hug his mom at a family visit without needing to be told it's okay.

Speech therapy sessions are expensive, and they are the single biggest lever for his development right now. Plus early education supplies and healthy meals for a growing boy.