There are some films that don’t just entertain—they leave an imprint. Good Will Hunting was one of those for me. The story of a brilliant but troubled young man navigating trauma, trust, and transformation felt deeply familiar. In many ways, it mirrors the real-life journeys of children and youth we, at Miracle Foundation India, work with in the child protection and alternative care space. The film isn’t just about genius; it’s about the power of consistent support, of someone believing in you even when you can’t believe in yourself. It reminded me of why systems of care—be it through foster care, mentorship, or therapeutic relationships—are so essential, especially in contexts where emotional well-being is often overlooked in policy discussions.

Good Will Hunting is a story about a young janitor at MIT, Will Hunting, who possesses an extraordinary gift for mathematics and memory but hides it beneath a rough exterior. Behind his intelligence lies a traumatized young man, shaped by a history of abuse and abandonment in foster care. Will is emotionally guarded, distrustful of others, and constantly pushes people away before they can reject him.

When he assaults a police officer, he’s given a choice: jail or therapy. Reluctantly, he agrees to therapy and meets Dr. Sean Maguire, a psychologist who, like Will, has faced his own deep losses. Their evolving relationship becomes the heart of the film—Sean’s unwavering patience, empathy, and vulnerability help Will confront his pain, break free from the fear of intimacy, and begin choosing his future, not just reacting to his past.

What struck me most was not just Will’s pain, but how one person’s consistent belief in him began to change everything. His therapist, Sean, doesn’t fix him overnight. But through patience, vulnerability, and persistence, he helps Will do something that many children in care rarely get to do: trust.

Will’s story is fictional, but it echoes real experiences of young people in our systems:

• Many have survival behaviours that mask deep pain.
• They push others away before they can be hurt again.
• They carry potential—talent, creativity, leadership—that goes unnoticed unless someone takes the time to see it.

However, there are critical gaps in the child care and protection system which need urgent and focused attention. Some among them are as follows:

• Children in care often lack access to trauma-informed mental health services, especially in institutional settings. 
• Youth leaving care (aftercare youth) are often left emotionally unsupported once they turn 18, facing abrupt transitions with minimal preparation.
• Frontline workers are under-trained in psychosocial support and trauma sensitivity. 
• The social workforce (caregivers, caseworkers, and others) lack adequate mental health support to manage their stress, prevent burnout, and cope with secondary trauma.
• Families receive limited support to prevent unnecessary separation—interventions often come too late.
• Youth voices are rarely heard in shaping care and aftercare services.

What Needs to Change: From Individual Stories to Systemic Support

1. Ensure Effective Integration of Mental Health into Care Plans in Institutional Care or Non-Institutional Care/Family-Based Care

• Mandate trauma-informed mental health assessments for children 
• Ensure access to counsellors for all children in institutional or family-based care.
• Leverage the District Mental Health Program (DMHP) to build referral networks and ensure access to qualified mental health professionals at the local level.

2. Personalized and Emotional Aftercare Support

• Go beyond stipend-based support—build long-term mentoring programs.
• Prioritize life skills, job readiness, and emotional resilience.

3. Train Frontline Workers in Healing-Centred Approaches 

• Incorporate modules on trauma, attachment, and reflective practice in District Child Protection Unit/Child Welfare Committee training.
• Provide supervision and mental health support to caregivers and caseworkers.
• Establish a cadre of community-based frontline workers to identify and offer psychological first aid.

4. Invest in Family Strengthening

• Scale up community-based prevention programs for at-risk families.
• Integrate parenting, mental health, and livelihood support as preventive care.

5. Elevate Youth Voices

• Create state-level youth advisory panels with care-experienced young people.
• Community-based organizations and child-focused groups can play a powerful role in creating storytelling platforms and participatory program design.

Structures That Heal, Not Just Hold

Miracle Foundation India’s Family Strengthening and Family-Based Alternative Care interventions focus on empowering families to create safe, nurturing environments for children—through parenting support, economic stability, access to services and strong community ties. When children cannot remain with their biological families, kinship or foster care is prioritized. These efforts align with the best interests of the child and promote long-term stability, care, and protection.

These aren’t just technical fixes —they’re about building structures that heal, not just hold. Behind every recommendation is a child who deserves safety, connection, and belonging. Systems alone don’t change lives—people do. And when those systems are built to support people who care, the impact can be profound.  

When Someone Stays

Will Hunting didn’t heal because someone “rescued” him. He healed because someone stayed, listened, and believed in him. For children in care, we must go beyond paperwork and placement—we must build a system that sees, supports, and stands by them. Whether we’re caregivers, social workers, or youth advocates, we need to remember: Healing doesn’t come from a program—it comes from people. 

Every Will needs a Sean.

Every young person deserves someone who sees their worth, believes in them, and holds space for their pain.

Because when one adult shows up consistently, it can change the entire story.

Author: Poonam Rai, Lead- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Miracle Foundation India

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of Miracle Foundation India.