Keeping Siblings Connected
"Having siblings is like making music, some high notes, some low notes, but it is always a beautiful song."-Anonymous
Who we are
Legacy Anchored Youth is a Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to keeping sibling groups separated in foster care connected through joyful, trauma-informed programming, and to bringing that same joy to children across our community.
The Research and Heart Behind why we do what we do?
We understand that trauma is a never-ending struggle that the child welfare system wrestles with daily. We are not presenting that we have a solution to this battle; however, we aim to alleviate some of the sting the blows of trauma causes.In press coverage about her book, The Brain That Loves to Laugh: A Visual Guide to Hope, Humour and Human Connection in Early Childhood, Dr. Jacqueline Harding stated that, "Spontaneous joyful play is an antidote to stress, as it increases levels of endorphins released by the brain."Research from the University of Oxford, led by Professor Robin Dunbar, has found that shared laughter biochemically reinforces closeness. Laughter activates the body's endorphin system, strengthening social bonds, improving group cohesion, and deepening emotional connection between the people who share it, siblings included.This understanding fuels the drive behind why we do what we do. Think about how you feel when you are in the company of people you love ....and who love you...laughing, enjoying, and creating fun memories with each other. There is a light feeling, a carefree feeling, a feeling of safety that occurs in that moment.L.A.Y.'s focus is to create these moments for siblings who are separated in care. We work toward creating events that are centered around connecting siblings who are placed separately. We aim to create an environment that promotes laughter, connection, and safety.Most of our team have over 20 years in the child welfare system. We see the pains and the sorrows that come from children being separated from their siblings. We want to help provide as much reprieve as we can.
DID YOU KNOW?
Here in Texas, 42% of sibling groups in foster care are not placed together. That's about 1,600 out of 3,800 sibling groups. For groups of three or more siblings, it climbs to 55%, nearly 1,000 out of 1,800 groups.**Source: Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Data Book, FY2025
How WE CONNECT
01.
Sibling Connection Day
Our quarterly, community-wide gathering, a different theme each season, from The Jolly Drive in December to a Spring Field Day and beyond. Every Connection Day brings separated sibling groups together for laughter, play, and reunion.
02.
SIBLING EXPERIENCES
Birthdays, arts and crafts, game days, and more. Our standing menu of connection experiences is available to every partner agency, on request, at no cost to them. Your support makes it possible for us to say yes, every time an agency reaches out.
03.
Why it matters
Sibling bonds are one of the most protective relationships a child can hold onto during trauma. Every Connection Day and every Sibling Experience is a deliberate investment in a child's ability to heal made possible by people like you.
LOOKING AHEAD....
Beyond our current Sibling Connection Days and Sibling Experiences, L.A.Y. is working toward a longer-term goal: opening a General Residential Operation (GRO) where sibling groups can live together while they await a permanent foster family willing to take them all in together. Too often, siblings entering care are split up simply because no single home has room for the whole group. Legacy Anchored Youth Homes is being built to close that gap: giving brothers and sisters a stable, shared home during the search for a forever family that keeps them together. We are currently working toward licensure through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
Past Events.....
Labor Day Pop Up!!🍰 Sweet Moments, Stronger Connections 💙
This Labor Day, Legacy Anchored Youth had the joy of celebrating with children in our community during our Labor Day Pop-Up, generously sponsored by Nothing Bundt Cakes!Sometimes, something as simple as sharing a sweet treat can create a moment of joy, laughter, and connection. We loved seeing the smiles as we handed out delicious Bundt Cakes and spent time with the children and families in our community.A heartfelt THANK YOU to Nothing Bundt Cakes for helping us make the day a little sweeter. Partnerships like these allow us to create joyful experiences and meaningful memories for the children we serve.At Legacy Anchored Youth, every opportunity to connect matters. 💙⚓Keeping Siblings Connected. Creating Joy. Building Memories.
Upcoming events....
Candy, Community, Connection...Oct.31, 2026
Help bring brothers and sisters separated in foster care together this Christmas. If your business, church, or organization would like to sponsor the Jolly Drive or host a toy collection, leave your information below.
The Jolly Drive Christmas Luncheon...Dec.12,2026
Help us collect toys for siblings in foster care! Our toy drive runs through December 1, 2026. If your organization would like to become a community sponsor or host a drop-off location, leave your information and our team will be in touch.
Building The future....
When children enter foster care, they often lose more than their home. They lose each other. Legacy Anchored Youth is building a General Residential Operation, a home like space where sibling groups can stay together while we find them a permanent family willing to take them all in.Your gift helps us create a place that feels like home, not a facility, with programs built around normalcy (sports, birthdays, all the everyday moments kids deserve), trauma-informed care that helps them heal, and most of all, the preservation of the one bond that matters most through it all: each other.
Our FOUNDER...
Byron D. Jones grew up in small-town Louisiana, facing circumstances that tested his resilience from a young age. Separated from his four siblings for long stretches, he knew firsthand the pain of disconnection. That experience ignited a passion to help other children—those in foster care, those separated from their siblings—stay connected. This drive led to the founding of Legacy Anchored Youth Inc., an organization dedicated to ensuring no sibling group is left without a lifeline. Byron’s story isn’t just about overcoming the odds; it’s about building bridges for others to do the same.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
L.A.Y.'s events run on the hands and hearts of our volunteers. Join us in creating moments of joy and connection for siblings separated by foster care.
Community Sponsors & Partners
© Legacy Anchored Youth. All rights reserved. 2026
Thank you
Thank you for being part of this mission. Together, we're keeping siblings connected, one moment of joy at a time.To partner with L.A.Y. email us at:[email protected]