By Jennifer Smith, Founder & Executive Director
Foster care in San Antonio isn’t a headline. It’s personal. I’ve seen it in my home, in my church, and in the eyes of kids who’ve been moved more times than most of us can imagine.
I didn’t plan to lead a nonprofit. I was a physical therapist, a mom of two, and pretty comfortable staying in my lane. Then I read one story—just one—and it changed everything. It was about a girl whose life was torn apart by abuse and neglect. She had bounced through homes and the foster care system with no real stability. And for the first time, I realized I’d never once heard a sermon, conversation, or call to action about kids in foster care in my own city.
The Church Stepped In
My husband and I became foster parents in 2006, and our church—Grace Point—quickly became part of the story. What started as a few conversations turned into a ministry, then a movement. In five years, Grace Point families cared for over 75 children and adopted 27. We didn’t have a strategic plan—we just knew we couldn’t keep ignoring the need.
Other churches started asking how they could do the same. I didn’t have polished answers, just experience and conviction. Eventually, I was approached by someone from First Presbyterian Church who asked what it would take to build this into a nonprofit. That led to the launch of the South Texas Alliance for Orphans.
KinMart: Dignity for Caregivers
One of our key outreach events each year is KinMart. This year’s event just wrapped, and it was powerful—we served 672 kids. KinMart is for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and relatives raising children who’ve been impacted by foster care. These caregivers didn’t plan on parenting again. Many got a phone call on a random Tuesday, asking them to take in kids that would otherwise enter the system.
At KinMart, we gave those families more than just school supplies. Kids got to choose their own high-quality backpacks, pick out items they actually liked, and walk away with a sense of pride. Caregivers got the support and dignity they rarely receive.
We know a backpack doesn’t change a life. But community does. And KinMart created space for both.
Don’t Go Alone: Support for Aged-Out Youth
Foster care doesn’t stop at 18—but support often does. That’s why we launched Don’t Go Alone, a mentorship initiative for young adults aging out of the foster care system. These youth don’t need another caseworker or program. They need people. They need someone who shows up on birthdays, answers the phone when things fall apart, and keeps showing up—no matter what.
At the core of DGA is a simple belief: transformation comes through relationship. Young adults need steady, consistent presence. A person who knows their name, remembers their story, and is still there next week. This isn’t about service hours or strategies—it’s about showing up and staying.
When mentors step in, they’re not just offering help—they’re offering family. They’re stepping into a story and saying, “I’m not going anywhere.” And for a young adult who’s never had that kind of support, it changes everything.
This is how cycles are broken. Not through systems, but through people who won’t walk away.
The Bigger Picture
Today, the Alliance partners with over 130 churches across Bexar County and the surrounding areas. We operate with a three-part strategy: prevent kids from entering the system, support families currently navigating foster care, and walk with youth aging out.
This work is messy. It’s heavy. But it’s also hopeful. I recently shared more about this journey on the Chingon SA podcast. Not because I’m the expert—but because this city needs more people to know what’s happening and more people willing to do something about it.
Foster care in San Antonio is real. It’s urgent. And every person has a role to play.
