Impact Spotlight
Our mission comes to life in stories like this one: Two sisters joined JISU — one raised by their mother, who struggled with addiction, and the other by their aunt. The younger sister felt angry and abandoned, seeing her older sibling as the one who got the better life. The older sister, in turn, saw her younger sibling as a disruption. But during their time at JISU — through shared experiences like rock climbing, boating, cooking, and candle making, along with compassionate counseling and mentoring — something shifted. They began to see one another not as rivals, but as sisters.
Through the specialized Sibling Reunification program at The JISU Experience, we finally provided the intentional pathway they desperately needed. This wasn't merely a meeting; it was a healing-centered journey of rediscovery. In the safe embrace of our community, their hesitant silence evolved into the vibrant rhythm of childhood laughter and shared dreams.
Today, they don't just share a history—they share a future. Their restoration from conflict to healing defines why JISU exists: because every child deserves the transformative power of connection.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every child has the opportunity to know, love, and grow with their siblings. By mending fractured relationships and nurturing emotional well-being, we aim to help children build a foundation of joy, identity, and resilience — empowering them to thrive as whole, connected, and successful individuals.
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Family First: Every child deserves the gift of family connection
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Healing Through Connection: Relationships have the power to transform lives
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Advocacy: We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves
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Inclusivity: Our support knows no boundaries of race, religion, or background
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Empowerment: We equip siblings with tools for lasting connection
The JISU Experience is a community-centered organization committed to strengthening connections for children, youth, and families impacted by foster care, adoption, kinship care, and family separation. Rooted in lived experience and guided by healing-centered practice, JISU creates spaces where families feel supported, understood, and empowered.
Our work prioritizes emotional wellness, identity, and belonging—recognizing that strong relationships are essential to long-term stability and well-being. Through programming, partnerships, and community initiatives, The JISU Experience works alongside families and organizations to reduce isolation, address gaps, and build pathways toward connection and healing.
Our Values
Maria Jones, Founder & Executive Director
Maria Jones is the Founder and Executive Director of The JISU Experience (Joy in Siblings United). Inspired by her daughter Aniya’s lived experience with sibling separation, Maria founded JISU to address the heartbreak and long-term impact that occurs when children are separated from their siblings due to foster care, adoption, kinship care, and other circumstances beyond their control.
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JISU was created to bring siblings back together and provide safe, nurturing spaces where they can reconnect, process their experiences, and begin to heal. Through meaningful reunions, healing-centered programming, and supportive activities, JISU helps children and youth rebuild vital bonds and grow into joyful, resilient, and purpose-driven individuals.
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Maria brings a deep commitment to advocacy, dignity, and community collaboration. Under her leadership, The JISU Experience continues to develop programs and partnerships that strengthen sibling connections and uplift children and families navigating complex systems.