NOTE - The youth's names have been changed and images withheld for their privacy and protection because they are still in foster care awaiting permanence. Through their stories, though, their identities and personalities are as vivid as their futures are bright.

My name is Annabeth.  I’m 14 years old and in the 8th grade.  In my spare time I like to be alone and listen to NEONI.  I taught myself how to draw and shade. 

I know why I came into foster care, but I don’t want to talk about it.  Chelsey (foster mom) is the adult I could go to for help.  I don’t know who else I could call.

THOUGHTS FROM ANNABETH'S FOSTER MOM:

As a foster parent, finding resources to help care for the kids is often very difficult for many reasons like insurance not covering certain things or them getting put on the “back burner” for other kids who have “commercial” insurance.  I had been looking for ways everywhere we go to help them get everything they need to succeed in life after a rough start.  I saw the ad for this program on a billboard and after exhausting every option, I reached out to Ms. Leslie to see if we qualified. 

The classes were super fun for the kids, and I think they enjoyed seeing kids in similar situations.  Watching them sitting in the chairs after their journeys to get here, it warms my heart to see them get to be taken care of so well and to get to watch their teeth and insecurities get straightened out to help not only their health but their self-confidence.  Myself and the kids are so grateful to this program to have them make these kids feel good about themselves and feel included and treated like other kids [who] are not in care like they are.  A parent’s big “AHA” moment is when their kids can feel comfortable and included and I think this program did that and more for my two.