Tasha is a 16–year–old female who has been with our family for almost a year now. This is her first time in long term foster care. She is adapting quite well. She seems to feel that she in genuinely a part of this family and that we will be there for her as long as she needs us.

Tasha came into care after many years of being sent back and forth from Mom to Dad and back. She has had trouble keeping up with school and has not always made the best choice of friends. There were some incidents with drugs and alcohol in the past. Tasha and her mother do not get along very well. The fighting at times escalates into physical violence and the police and social services are called. The last time she was sent to her mother's to live the same problems began again. Mom felt that Tasha was out of control. She was failing in school and hanging out with the wrong kind of kids. Tasha's Mom called Social Services and had her removed from the home several times and sent her out for respite. The problems did not get better. She was then removed and sent her to our house. The court felt that it was in the best interest that Tasha stayed in foster care for a while and see if things could be worked out.

She has been a wonderful asset to our family, which consists of two other teenage girls that have been in foster care for 12 years and with us for 10 years. She is doing very well in school. She is close to being on the honor roll and she, as well as all the rest of us, is very proud of her accomplishments. Tasha's relationships with both her Mom and Dad have improved. Although reunification in the goal; Tasha does not feel that that would be in her best interest at this time. She will always be welcome in our home; she is definitely a part of our family.