When Angela, a stay-at-home mom with two daughters, was referred to Casey Family Services' reunification program in Maine nine months ago, she faced special challenges. While adept at reading lips, she was hearing impaired -- legally deaf -- and communicated primarily through sign language. Although Angela's daughters, Judy and Kerry, ages 5 and 7, were not hearing impaired, finding a suitable foster home that made Angela feel comfortable could have proven difficult.

That potential obstacle instead became a guiding force in uniting two mothers from two worlds, and would give rise to a friendship they both believe will last for many years to come.

For the past three years, Mary and Joshua Graham had been serving as foster parents through Maine's Department of Human Services. While enjoying the experience of fostering, they were anxious to work more closely with birth families in the reunification process. In researching private agencies, a friend referred them to Casey.

"I've found that Casey actually encourages foster families to make a connection with the birth family. They want you to be involved," says Mary. "So we were so excited to begin working with them."

In April, the Grahams welcomed Angela's daughters, their first Casey placement. The match couldn't have been more perfect, says Susannah Ford, a Casey social worker, since the Grahams were well-versed in sign language. Not only could they communicate easily with Angela, but their openness toward sign language would help in rebuilding a connection between Angela and her daughters, enabling them to experience -- not fear -- a whole other world.

Angela seemed more comfortable with the Grahams, says Ford, in part, because of their ability to communicate in sign. Kerry always felt very different because her mother was deaf, but using sign with the Grahams has made her feel better about herself, she adds. "Being able to see that there are other families who sign has made [Kerry] more open to using it." And that has brought her closer to her mother.

Judy and Kerry now look forward to their weekly sign language classes, which Casey helped arrange.

Unfortunately, the families live more than two hours apart, so daily visitations are difficult. "One of the hopes of the [reunification] program is to recruit foster families from the same neighborhood the child resides in," adds Ford.

The reunification process begins with a team of professionals spending several weeks conducting an intake assessment, working with the state agency, and spending time observing the birth family, determining specific needs and parenting skills that may need improvement.

"The Grahams have really embraced the program and are so supportive towards reunification," points out Ford. In fact, Angela visited the foster home to help her girls get ready for their first day of school.

Since being in the program, Angela has improved her parenting skills, particularly in establishing boundaries and in communicating with her girls.

"Angela grew up in the deaf community," says Ford. "She has a real connection to the Deaf culture. She's lived a fairly isolated life where a lot of focus needed to be having her own needs met. Now, she is learning to acknowledge her children's feelings and develop empathy and a deeper level of communication. She is a much stronger parent," says Ford.

The girls are expected to return home to their mother by summer. "I hope that Casey will continue to work with my family and that my children's and my self-esteem continues to grow," signs Angela. "And I hope the children will be able to bring back home what they have learned from the Grahams."