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Kids in foster care miss out on more than people realize.
Disrupted schooling, moves between homes, lost documents, and the weight of past trauma can make “normal” teenage milestones seem impossible. Many young people miss out or fall behind their peers, not because they lack motivation, but because their lives look different.
Marcus knows that reality well.
He lives in a kinship foster care placement with his grandmother. Like many caregivers in her position, she makes sure the basics are covered. But the “extras”, like learning to drive, can feel out of reach.
Marcus loves track. He loves his coach and being part of a team. When driver’s training came up, it felt like another impossible choice: track practice or learning to drive. Another milestone he would have to delay, and another reminder that his path isn’t the same as other teens.
That’s when his Vista Maria caseworker, K., stepped in.
K. sat down with Marcus and his grandmother to work through his school calendar, track schedule, transportation needs, and driver’s ed requirements so he wouldn’t have to choose. She took the time to really understand what mattered to Marcus, and what barriers his family was facing.
And when it was time for his first driver’s training class, K. even took him there and sat with him the entire time. (She reports that the parallel parking refresher was helpful.)
That’s the Vista Maria difference. Staff like K. go the extra mile because we know these moments matter.
We can’t do this work without people like you.
Thank you for believing in young people like Marcus, for supporting dedicated staff like K., and for making milestones possible.
Thank you.
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