Laurie, 16, arrived in foster care at age 13 with her sister that is a year older. They arrived scared, sad and confused. For the first two months Laurie went on many walks to organize her thoughts and completed 7th grade.

Her second foster home started in her 3rd month of care. She gained 2 teenage sisters at this home and learned to fight for clothes, food and space. Laurie spent a lot of time alone and was responsible for chores on the hobby farm. There was too much freedom and she did not learn responsibility or how to handle teenage situations while at this home. During this stay her sister became pregnant due to a lack of proper supervision and both their lives would change dramatically. Laurie finished 8th grade and barely passed her first semester of high school before leaving this home to return back to her original foster home.

Laurie was welcomed back to her first foster home in January 2004. She would be without her sister this time. There was a lot of work to be done to improve her self esteem, grades, and the domination of her older sister. Laurie settled in again and her grades improved dramatically during her second semester of her freshman year. She was starting a new high school and needed to bond with new friends. She would also have to make up the two classes she failed at her old school. She enjoyed the opportunities that a reward system could present to her if she held up her part. During the summer she went on a family trip to a NASCAR race. She also earned the opportunity to enroll in Driver’s Education class.

Now, Laurie is starting the process of visiting with her family and starting the transition back home.