Wichita Falls foster kids find hope and healing at Blue Skies

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Blue Skies in Wichita Falls is celebrating two years of helping kids stay closer to home while they recover from their trauma.

Since 2023, more than 100 foster care children have walked through the doors of Blue Skies Residential Center. Many came from difficult situations: trauma, abuse and instability, but leaders said that here, kids can finally find a place to heal and rebuild their lives.

“Many of them are local. We’ve had 40 positive successes at least, that have been able to receive the treatment, develop positive coping skills and step down to either a foster family, be adopted or actually reunify with their own families”, said Blue Skies Administrator, Ryan Lynn.

Staff provide 24/7 trauma-informed care, with therapy, education and even music programs that give kids a voice and a way to turn pain into hope.

“We also have the school and lots of different partnerships within the community,” said Lynn. “One of those partnerships is ‘music saved my life’ with Drew. Drew comes in and works with the kids and helps turn their traumas into songs and then helps them record their own songs.”

With a 20-year background in residential childcare and education, Lynn said the mission of the center is empowerment and keeping the local kids local.

“Ultimately, we help them build connections, positive relationships, and then we empower them to achieve their own success”, said Lynn.

An example of that is a 17-year-old who started at Blue Skies before being transferred to another center. The issue is that she was turning 18 in 60 days and wouldn’t graduate in time.

“So, she called us and came back to us. And with our school system here, and because we’re a full therapeutic milieu, we were able to allow her to do school after hours on the weekends,” said Lynn. “And she graduated high school two days before her 18th birthday and successfully reunified with her family with a high school diploma.”

As they celebrate two years in Wichita Falls, leaders say they’re determined to keep growing so no foster child has to face trauma alone.

For more information on Blue Skies, visit The Family Initiative’s website on Blue Skies.