Harnessing the Best of Human Kindness

“What appeals to me so much about A Home Within is the kind of person that makes the commitment to be there for whatever it takes. People who really care, who are doing the work because of no other reason than a commitment to humanity.” -A Home Within Volunteer Therapist

Over the past few years, a crisis has gripped the mental health field, with providers experiencing burnout, scaling back on training, or leaving the field. And yet, A Home Within’s national network of volunteer therapists answers the call to serve by donating one hour of free therapy every week to a client who has experienced foster care. 

Nearly 600,000 children and youth are currently in foster care, and research shows that mental and behavioral health is their largest unmet need. The idea for A Home Within was born thirty years ago, when a handful of San Francisco psychotherapists gathered around a kitchen table to imagine a world where children could heal from the trauma of foster care without financial or administrative barriers. 

The idea of a lasting relationship between a client and therapist became the centerpiece of A Home Within: to identify, recruit, train, and support a network of licensed therapists who each provide free, weekly, one-to-one therapy to a child, teen, or adult – for as long as it takes.

Today’s A Home Within is humming with momentum. “We’re currently experiencing unprecedented program growth,” Executive Director Reed Connell says. “We’re onboarding new therapists and serving more young people than ever before.” To meet the growing need, they have tripled therapist recruitment. They have also expanded their clinical support, continuing education, professional development, and research programs at a record rate.

Nearly 2,000 volunteers across the nation have embraced its mission. Every week, clients from San Francisco to New Jersey will meet with their A Home Within therapist, whether it be the first time or the hundredth time. Based on current hourly rates, this network has collectively donated more than $2.5 million in therapy sessions. 

To the volunteer clinician, A Home Within offers a shared purpose. “We really emphasize to our volunteers that they’re becoming part of a supportive community,” Connell says. For every prospective volunteer, staff confirm licensure and insurance, run a background check, and conduct a 1:1 interview. Volunteers then receive pre-service training and choose an AHW-facilitated consultation group. Then, staff matches them with a current or former foster youth based on clinical factors and client preferences. Volunteers have access to free accredited continuing education seminars for all license types in all states.

This growth has created a need to adapt and improve their systems, workflows, and resources to build staff capacity. “By creating a community that’s extremely well supported and truly joyful in its commitment, we magnify its impact,” says Connell.

In its 30th anniversary year, A Home Within’s vision remains clear: that a high-quality healing relationship is available to everyone who has experienced foster care.