Today we’d like to introduce you to Berea Thompkins
Hi BEREA, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started Family Onward out of a deep desire to support foster youth and families facing significant challenges. Having witnessed firsthand the struggles many families experience, particularly in navigating the child welfare system and achieving self-sufficiency, I felt compelled to create an organization that would offer both practical resources and compassionate advocacy. The idea behind Family Onward was to focus on keeping families together, empowering them with the tools they need to thrive, and providing a support system that addresses the unique needs of foster youth and marginalized community members. What began as a vision to strengthen family units and build brighter futures has now grown into a thriving nonprofit that is committed to serving the community with a holistic approach.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running Family Onward has been both rewarding and challenging. One of the biggest struggles has been securing consistent funding to maintain and grow our programs, which are crucial for supporting foster youth and families. Balancing the immediate needs of the community with long-term sustainability requires constant planning, grant writing, and fundraising efforts. Another challenge is managing the emotional toll that comes with working closely with families in crisis, as it’s difficult to see people struggle, especially when resources are stretched thin. Additionally, navigating the complexities of the child welfare system and advocacy efforts can be time-consuming and overwhelming, requiring both patience and persistence. Despite these obstacles, the work is deeply fulfilling, and every success story reminds me why the challenges are worth it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Family Onward, we are dedicated to empowering foster youth and families by providing the resources, advocacy, and support they need to overcome challenges and build brighter futures. We specialize in offering holistic, family-centered programs that focus on helping individuals become self-sufficient through education, career certifications, workshops, and direct advocacy services. What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to working with the whole family unit—offering flexible schedules, tailored resources, and long-term support to meet their unique needs.
Brand-wise, we are most proud of our focus on keeping families together and helping foster youth successfully transition into adulthood with confidence and stability. Our brand stands for resilience, empowerment, and community. We want our readers to know that Family Onward is more than just a service provider; we are a partner in their journey, offering hands-on support, career development opportunities, and advocacy that makes a tangible difference in their lives. We believe that every family deserves a chance to succeed, and we are here to provide the tools and guidance to help them thrive.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The COVID-19 crisis taught us several important lessons at Family Onward, particularly about adaptability and the critical role of community support. One key lesson was the importance of flexibility—many of our programs had to quickly shift to virtual formats to ensure families continued receiving the support they needed. This pushed us to embrace new technologies, which ultimately expanded our reach and allowed us to serve families who couldn’t access in-person services before.
We also learned the importance of mental health and emotional well-being. The pandemic placed immense stress on foster youth and families, making it clear that our services needed to go beyond basic needs and career support. We incorporated more mental health resources and emotional support into our offerings, helping families navigate the uncertainties and challenges of the time.
Most importantly, the crisis reinforced the value of community resilience. We saw how powerful it can be when families, organizations, and communities come together to support one another in times of hardship. This experience has reshaped how we approach our work, ensuring that we’re always prepared to adapt and that we provide a holistic support system to families, no matter the circumstances.
Pricing:
- Workshops 25 or less
- First Aid CPR – competitively priced
- Events – 25 or less
- Test Prep 25 or less
- Monitored Visits- competitively priced
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familyonwardorg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WholeFamilySupport/?_rdr
- Twitter: family onward
- Yelp: Family Onward
Image Credits
Dejah Thompkins
