DPSS Annual Report 24_25 FLIP v16_compressed

Harmony Haven Children and Youth Center

From Lived Experiences to Professional Support: A Social Worker Returns to Riverside County Foster Care With a Message of Resilience

Alyssa Hernandez often begins her day at Harmony Haven Children and Youth Center by checking in with the young peo ple who have just arrived, offering them a reassuring presence during some of the hardest moments of their lives. As a resi dential care social worker, she helps youth whose foster place ments have broken down, often because foster families have become overwhelmed by their behaviors, which Hernandez understands are rooted in trauma, loss and complex needs. For her, the work is deeply personal. Hernandez entered Riverside County foster care as a teenager after experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. She remembers the uncertainty, the fear of starting over and the social workers who showed her consistent support and com passion. “They helped me through a really difficult transition in the foster care system,” she said. “Seeing how much they cared and how much they did for me is what motivated me. When I was homeless and going through so much, the County of Riverside stepped in. They were there for me when I needed it most.” Those social workers also planted the seeds that shaped Her nandez’s future and outlook on life. “That’s when I realized I wanted to come back one day and be a social worker,” she said. With support from the county and the resources available to her as a foster youth, Hernandez earned a bachelor’s degree in so ciology and began mentoring young people as a youth partner. At Harmony Haven, Hernandez now supports youth who reflect a part of her younger self, a part of her life story that continues to guide her work. She connects with them one on one, listens and helps them adjust to the challenges of entering a shelter environment and navigating an uncertain future. She talks with them about staying safe, understanding risks and finding sup port that can help them move forward and overcome their chal lenges. “I was that troubled youth at one time. I want other foster youth to know it is possible to be successful and to not let their past or trauma define who they are,” she said. “I use my personal expe riences to show them how important it is to have an education and break those generational cycles.” Some of the most meaningful moments are small but lasting. Recently, a youth told Hernandez they felt more confident during a stressful school orientation because she helped them manage their anxiety. Hearing that affirmed the impact of be ing present when someone needs it. “Knowing I can help them

in those moments is what keeps me going,” she said.

Hernandez’s path from foster youth to social worker serves as a reminder to the young people she works with that healing is possible and their futures remain open. Today, she has a clear vision for what comes next. “I want to stay and be here until I retire,” she said. “Helping oth ers is something I’ve always wanted to do.”

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Riverside County Department of Public Social Services | Annual Report 2024 - 2025