Kayla is a 17–year– old girl who will be aging out of the system. Her birth date is 5/31/87. She entered care on October 20, 2000. She has been placed with us since then. Kayla is diabetic, which is one of the many reasons she entered care. Her mother was unable and unwilling to meet her needs on a daily basis. She entered my home after an emergency stay in the hospital due to complications of her diabetes. Kayla enjoys music, movies, camping, seeing her brothers and sisters (who are not in the foster care system) and being with her friends.

Kayla faces many challenges when she leaves care. We have advocated to adopt, which fell through due to lack of follow–thru with the department, and guardianship which at the last moment her biological mother refused to sign, and so the only alternative was long term care.

Kayla also suffers from Mental Illness. It is a frightening thought of her out in this world all alone and I am still advocating for some systemic follow thru with her when she leaves care. It is the hope that she will be followed with an adult worker who will be able to advocate for her needs in the Mental Health arena and also to find some sheltered living home for her. Kayla is one of those kids who seem to just fall thru all the cracks in the system. We were able to obtain SSI for Kayla when she leaves our home.

Her story is only too prevalent within this system!!