Evania Hernandez expertly guides children and parents through the often complex foster care system.
A case planner with our Family Foster Care program, Evania began working with Children’s Aid in 2018. She worked in several fields before realizing that social work was the best fit.
“I was working in a medical office and talking to patients,” she said. “If they would feel anxious, I would sit down and talk with them and after hearing, ‘you know that made me feel a lot better’ and just the conversations that we were having – that took me on this road.”
When children are discharged to their birth parents, Evania conducts home visits to ensure the transition is going smoothly. She also advocates for the families in court and conducts other important tasks like processing daycare vouchers.
Evania knows some birth parents have had unpleasant experiences with the foster care system or human services agencies so she tries her best to reassure them. Humility allows her to excel in her work.
“I think being humble and not thinking that I’m better just because these birth parents are in this situation is important,” she said. “I think that anyone can fall into the system for whatever reason.”
Evania’s job is extremely fast-paced and demanding, but she makes sure to exude positivity and compassion with her families and staff. Though her main priority is making sure children have a safe home to go to, Evania enjoys working with parents toward reunifying their families.
“I also find it gratifying working with parents as well, not leaving them out of the loop, and making sure they are part of the family,” she said. “Of course trying to reunify the family is really important for me.”
