In Northfield, amid the shifting landscape of child welfare, a new nonprofit is charting a course toward stability for foster children. 'This Is Me', the brainchild of Holly Schoenbauer, is setting out to gift these kids not just a roof over their heads, but a sense of true belonging. Schoenbauer, juggling her roles as a mother, an educator with a master's in Gifted and Talented Education, and the executive director of another Northfield nonprofit, Project Friendship, has carved out a niche that goes beyond the basics. Six years into her journey as a foster parent, she's witnessed firsthand how foster children often struggle with identity and self-worth, as reported by Rice County.
Statistically speaking, foster kids get a rough start, often bouncing through multiple homes – four on average in their first year, with Rice County children averaging two shifts in 2024. Schoenbauer, seeing through the eyes of the several dozen children who cycled through her own home, realized the importance of personal belongings and milestones in crafting an identity. Foster children, she found, carry the label of "foster kid" like a millstone around their neck, shaping their self-perception in ways that often lead to a tough road ahead.
This Is Me aims to change that narrative by providing tangible tokens of identity and normalcy: yearbooks, club and team photos, letter jackets. It's not just about the tangible goods, though. Schoenbauer's nonprofit is actively coordinating with volunteer photographers to capture life milestones, such as adoption and reunion with parents, as reflected in the life-changing experiences reported by the children she tends to. In addition, she's knee-deep in fundraising and grant writing to extend the organization's reach into activities and mentorship, a crucial element for youth aged 7 and above.
While This Is Me is focusing on the identity and belonging of each child, Rice County Child & Family Services is dealing with the core logistics of safe placements. Chris Sammon, the county's Child & Family Services manager, acknowledged the gaps in the system, noting that while her team is hyper-focused on the basics like "are they going to have a safe place to sleep?" Schoenbauer's work is crucial to who these children can become. "Holly's organization is built on the building blocks of who you are," Sammon added, emphasizing the complementary nature of This Is Me's mission.
Schoenbauer's crusade is not just for the here and now; there's a blueprint in place to stretch This Is Me's wings across southern Minnesota's 32 counties, contingent on grant funding materializing. It's a move that Schoenbauer hopes will transform the way foster children view themselves and their futures. "Kids in foster care are given what they need to survive," Schoenbauer told Rice County. "This Is Me is giving them what they need to thrive." The distinction might seem slight, but for those on the ground, it's a paradigm shift worth every penny.
