My Ebenezer

Stella: through tears, “I just want them to know that I’ve changed. I’ve really changed this time. I know I was bad before but I’m not bad anymore. If they could just give me a second chance to show them. I want to go home. I want to be with my family. If they don’t give me a second chance I understand. I just want them to know I’m different now.”

Can you imagine being 15 and knowing that your family doesn’t want you because you’re “bad”?

As I was leaving today, Stella asked me how she could catch up at school. (she is one year behind) I told her to work hard and make A’s and B’s (she is incredibly capable of doing straight A’s) and then we could talk to her counselor at school. I suggested maybe summer school. She said she couldn’t afford to pay for summer school. (does summer school actually cost money?) I just smiled and told her that if she made the grades and decided she wanted to go to summer school to catch up that we would find a way to make it happen.

Stella moved to a new foster home last week and new foster mom didn’t have any information about medication. No meds, no prescriptions, no nothing. No evals so Stella could see the therapist or the doctor who might be able to prescribe appropriate medication. Case worker left Friday for vacation and isn’t returning until next week. Stella didn’t have enough clothes for school that starts on Monday. Stella wanted to see her bio family this weekend (which is allowed) but foster mom wouldn’t set it up because she doesn’t want bio family to have her contact information. Stella’s aunt was going to buy her shoes for school.

Enter Child Advocates.

Stella now has clothes for school (thanks, again, mom) and she will be spending the weekend with her aunt who will buy her shoes and get her hair done. All necessary records have been sent to appropriate persons so Stella was able to see the therapist and will also see the doctor this week.

Have you signed up to become a Child Advocate yet?