Ahlissa's Story
One Girl's Journey to Hope
About Ahlissa
She is 17 years old, lives in Gas City, Indiana, and is a senior in High School. She moved to Indiana from California because of her family situation. She is a current foster youth.
What is Foster Care?
According to the Administration for Child and Families...
When a family is unable to maintain the safety and stability of a child in their home, then legal services will intervene and provide them with “safe and stable out-of-home care… until they are safely returned home, placed permanently with adoptive families or legal guardians, or placed in other planned arrangements for permanency.”
Foster youth are provided with different services to support the child. Ahlissa meets regularly with her case manager to discuss everything from life skills to college plans.
WOLVES! And Her Future Hopes...
As a child, she had a dog named Buddy. Buddy was her comfort and joy, loving Ahlissa through the painful experiences.
Life Before Foster Care
Ahlissa grew up under tumultuous circumstances.
She is the oldest of 9 siblings and inherited responsibility over them. This was a tremendous weight put on her, and she struggled to navigate her childhood against these odds. A particularly difficult experience was when her sister developed a seizure disorder after falling at a slumber party. Ahlissa often blamed herself for her sister’s condition because of the responsibility placed on her over her siblings.
Leading Up to Legal Intervention
Ahlissa’s mother and stepfather left her little brother in a car alone while they were engaging in a drug deal, and he wandered off. Someone spotted him and called the police. This, in turn, resulted in their arrest. This type of behavior from people in legal custody fo the child is considered neglect. According to the National Conference for State Legislators (NCSL), “Neglect is the most common type of child maltreatment in the U.S.” Child neglect is when a caregiver does not sufficiently meet the needs of a child. A startling statistic from the NCLS indicates that 64% of children enter the foster care system primarily because of neglect.
Ahlissa had many hard experiences, one of which sticks with her. It was a moment that marked her life.
Community is Everything
I want people to know that God changed my life. When people look at me, I want them to see how I am despite what I've been through. If I can do it, so can they.
Since moving to Indiana from California, Ahlissa has established a community of Christian people who have transformed her life. Her youth group has made a tremendous difference in her life. Her faith is evident in how she lives her life.