Pearlie Stribling

Pearlie Stribling is a grandmother who, after a late-night call from Department of Children and Families, entered the world of Dependency Court after her grandchildren were reportedly found to be alone in their apartment. Pearlie, who lived in Miami at the time, got to Lake Worth as quickly as she could to stand-in-the-gap for her precious ‘pearls’, then aged 2 1/2 , 1 ½, and nine months; none capable of taking care of themselves.

That phone call changed Pearlie’s life. Though she expected to be fully supported by her husband, family, and friends, she quickly found that she would be left to navigate the volatile waters all on her own. Undeterred, she moved from Miami to Lake Worth so as not to completely uproot the little ones, she educated herself as much as possible on the world of dependency, foster and adoption, and courtroom proceedings. With help from local agencies, she was able to gather much needed resources to prepare her and the children for the road ahead.

She recalls the road to adoption taking over one year of multiple court cases where she maneuvered public transportation with three young children, a stroller, snacks, and diapers. There were the case management visits, home inspections, and self-advocacy; all overwhelming, but Pearlie stayed the course and was awarded permanent custody. As her grandmother raised her and set the standard that “…you always take care of family.” Now, eight years later, Pearlie’s Pearls are 11, 10, and 8 and Pearlie remains a vocal proponent of foster care and adoption.

It is this personal, lived experience that has prepared Pearlie for her role as the Life Experience Advisor to Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County board of directors.

“Lived experience specific to navigating the system, locating resources, and understanding the challenges associated with providing children’s day-to-day needs is invaluable,” says Executive Director for Speak Up for Kids, Coleen LaCosta. “As we champion initiatives around foster care and adoption, Pearlie’s is the voice we need if we are to remain innovative and relevant.”