At 16, Sofia entered foster care as a new mother with nowhere else to go. Her own home hadn’t been a safe or supportive environment, kicking her out when she got pregnant. With no guardian to return to after giving birth, she found herself in foster care, raising a baby in an unfamiliar home.

When she first moved into her foster home, she wasn’t sure what to expect and was slow to trust. She had been out of school for two years and was now needing to figure out how to go back to high school while caring for a newborn. With the help of the Department of Children’s Services, she enrolled in an adult high school program that gave her the flexibility to work at her own pace. Despite her gap in education and late nights and early mornings with a baby, she graduated this spring on time.

Motherhood came naturally to her, and she loves being a mom. Her foster care specialist describes her as attentive, protective, and unwavering in her commitment to her daughter. When her baby became seriously ill and had to be hospitalized, Sofia was there—advocating, asking the right questions and making sure her child received the best care possible.

While she doesn’t have a lot of free time, when she does, she enjoys painting and watching movies. And, though the transition into her foster home wasn’t easy, she is now more confident, stable and focused on her future. Her goal is to become a nurse.

When foster parents welcome teenagers like Sofia into their home, they aren’t just raising one child—they’re raising two. Providing guidance, stability and support to a young parent means influencing the life of their child as well. Even for those teenagers who aren’t parents, foster care is about more than a place to sleep. It is providing young people with an example of a safe and loving homes they maybe hadn’t experienced before, helping them breaking cycles and build a more positive future for themselves.

If you’re interested in learning more about fostering, sign up for an upcoming virtual info session to connect with staff and learn more about the process. If you have any questions or can’t make any of the sessions, please call us at 1-888-MY-YV-KID or submit an inquiry here.

Names and certain identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

Share on Social