In their own words...
Stephanie
For years I used to cover up and make excuses as a child to avoid being removed from our home; 15 51A reports and eleven years later this ended and I was awarded to the state of Massachusetts along with my 8 year old sister and my 5 year old brother. My journey had only begun. After several placements I began running away and faced a lot of legal repercussions.
I was held in juvenile detention centers, placed in group homes, even a drug rehabilitation for kids while in the state’s custody. I kept running away and eventually when the odds were against me I ran across country to Miami, Florida. I was beginning to realize that this life wasn’t for me. It was dangerous and scary. I began to make a change that began with a decision to come home and be there for my siblings, who I had raised up until the state removed us and we were split up. I wanted to start attending therapy and was so excited for family visits. I was able to develop a relationship with my brother and sister again and wanted so badly to become a responsible adult and upstanding citizen to set an example for them.
With so many bad memories and no foundation laid for me as a child it was hard. At times I was told “impossible” - with a drug addict and alcoholic bipolar mother and three different absent fathers, it wasn’t going to be easy. I had been diagnosed AND SUFFERED from PTSD, ADHD, Bipolar, Manic Depression and was on/off a lot of medication.
After several years of battling these conditions, I slowly started school again, then finished and obtained my G.E.D. After that, I obtained employment and got my own apartment. I was able to get my license and purchase a car. I then applied for a job working in the Juvenile Clerk Magistrate’s Office in Cambridge. I worked there for two years as a Case Specialist and learned the procedures of law. I started taking classes at a local community college and was fighting for custody of my younger brother who had been abused while in the State’s custody. This fueled me and I began to see a difference with my sister. She had begun her own initiatives toward a positive future.
I was starting to see all of my hard efforts pay off. I then was promoted to Administrative Assistant of the Support Services Department within the Administrative Office of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and assisted in registering 40 new judges for the Judicial Response System where I then coordinated schedules and maintained 80 cell phones. I mainly worked with judges that served on the J.R.S. I was assisting in A.D.R. (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Mediation services and conferences held at the Henderson House in Weston, MA. I coordinated A.D.R. training in the Nurses Hall in the State house. I realized I had a passion building here.
I was soon awarded custody of my younger brother Brian. My life was soaring with leaps and no boundaries. I served the State and my family but above all “God’s purpose was being fulfilled in my life.” I also raised 6-year old twin girls while working to accomplish these goals. I am also happily married - almost two years in June.
I am very interested in sharing my experience and continue working towards obtaining a degree to further my ability to work directly with the children. I have done some local speaking for the D.S.S. children in my area. I also understand how crucial it has been to get to this point and would like to send a positive message to our youth and this generation. I can relate and inspire these children if given the right chance.