Still Showing Up: A Caseworker's Perspective

I met Jessica when she was 17. She had been in care for quite some time at that point and was over it. She describes herself as having been a bratty teenager, but I just saw a girl who had experienced more trauma than anyone should ever have to experience, and who put up walls to protect herself. She was, she insists, on her 8th caseworker. I can't confirm that lore, but she's likely not exaggerating. She looked me in the face on our first home visit and said, "I get that I have to talk to you, but I'm not going to like you." I laughed and said, "We'll see."

Jessica was in her senior year at Traverse City High School, and despite being very intelligent she was at risk of not graduating. I asked her what she wanted. She said she wanted to graduate and go to NMC. I told her that's what we would make happen, then. I met with her and school staff every week until May to get all her assignments done. She saw me and the school showing up for her and believing in her, and it really got her into gear. I attended her graduation, and I'm not going to lie, when she thanked me, the caseworker she swore she wouldn't like, I sobbed. One of the better moments I've had in my long years at this job.

Graduation wasn't the end of our story. At 18 she entered the Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care (YAVFC) program, and I saw her through her first attempt at college at NMC. On move-in day, we sat at a picnic table by the dorms and she told me I was her favorite caseworker. I replied, "Girl, I told you you'd end up loving me!"



NMC didn't end up being the right fit at that time, so I saw her through more foster homes and a couple of roommate situations, through mental health struggles and work successes. Eventually I was promoted to supervisor, but I fought to keep her case as long as I could. I eventually handed off the reins because it was just too much — but I didn't give up Jessica. I stayed a part of her life, celebrated her wins, and micromanaged her new worker until she told me to back off.

Jessica aged out of the YAVFC program, but she didn't leave CFS behind. Over the years she presented on youth panels for training foster parents and attended CFS events, happy to support others and share her story. I made sure she had my number and that we stayed connected. Jessica knew that even though I wasn't her worker anymore, I was still here if she needed. I'm proud to say she has reached out over the years when navigating the challenges of adult life.

Knowing her history and struggles, to see the smart, funny, kind, engaging woman she has become is nothing less than remarkable. This is one of those things that has kept me going in an incredibly difficult job.

When Jessica reached out to tell me that Linda was going to do an adult adoption with her, I was over the moon. Jessica always wanted a family, and she has grown one — not out of blood, but out of love, joy, and shared struggles.

On the day of her adoption I was walking from my car to the courthouse and people from her past kept popping up, all there for the big day. A volunteer from our former teen group Elements, the program's facilitator, our former development director, a former foster parent, a former board member, another former foster youth who is like a sister to Jessica, and Linda and her family, who have become family to Jessica. The joy and excitement of that group was palpable. When Jessica got off the elevator and saw us all gathered, she was blown away. It made my heart hurt, because despite how far she has come, there will always be a little part of her that thinks no one loves her and that people won't show up. She gave me a huge hug and then was swept up in the arms of all the important people in her life.



Getting to experience days like this is what carries you through the late-night emergency calls, the heartbreak, and the devastation that comes with working in child welfare. Seeing Jessica thrive as an adult is everything I could ask for. I'm so happy to have shown up for her, and I will continue to show up for as long as she wants me to.

— Amelia Mayhew, Foster Care Supervisor, CFS

From Foster Care to Forever: Jessica and Linda’s Story

Jessica came into foster care as a teen and found it difficult to trust the adults in her life. She bounced from home to home before being placed with Linda Stephan, who had just become licensed as a single foster mom. Linda was a journalist who had done investigative reporting on the challenges of the foster care system — she knew what she was stepping into, at least on paper.

Jessica was 17, nearly 18, legally an adult soon but still a scared kid underneath a tough facade. And she challenged Linda no differently than she had every other adult in her life. But something was different this time.

When it was learned that Jessica had never had a birthday party, CFS board member Chris Mohrhardt offered to host one at Incredible Mo's. Over 20 people came out that night to bowl, laugh, eat pizza, and celebrate her turning 18. Little did she know her support system had grown by many caring adults. Jessica was all smiles and slowly she began to dismantle some of the walls in her young life.

Linda remembers those early days with great affection. "It was really clear from the first time I met Jessica that she was someone special. She remembers being a 'bratty teen.' And she was, because she had a lot going on in her young brain. She was also a voracious reader, became obsessed with subtitled Korean drama, giggled easily, and more than anything, loved spending time with Grandma Kate, Grandpa Jerry, and the rest of the family."

Jessica had also never been on vacation. "We talked about what she'd want to do," Linda recalls. "We petitioned the court to let her go on a church mission trip out of state, and she wanted to chase waterfalls. That led us to a camping adventure in the U.P. The mosquitoes ate her alive but somehow she caught the bug for camping and hiking and enjoying the outdoors." That love of adventure stuck. Today Jessica has a sweet boyfriend who shares her passion for travel and the outdoors, and a steady job that recently earned her a well-deserved promotion.

Through the years, Linda went on to earn her theology degree from Emory University and became Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Traverse City, the first woman to hold that role there. Through it all, Jessica remained close and stayed connected to the family, even traveling to Atlanta for Linda's seminary graduation. And last year, Jessica sat in the front pew, alongside her roommate, her boyfriend, and Linda's family, to watch Linda marry Rev. Jeremy Williams.

Jessica was always considered family. And when Linda asked if she wanted to make it legally official, this time she said yes.

This afternoon, in front of Judge Whitten, with smiles and tears all around the room, Jessica's adult adoption was finalized. Linda put it simply: "I am so proud to be one of her many moms, and now legally!"

The love Linda has for Jessica comes through in every story she tells, including this one: "As an adult with her first job, she walked to work in the winter for weeks before we realized her car had broken down, walking miles in the snow, getting out at 11 p.m. when the bus was no longer running. We stepped in once we realized, and I am ashamed it wasn't earlier. But that just gives you a good idea of how much of a light this woman is."

Next month Jessica turns 30, and a celebration is already in order. Chris Mohrhardt, who was standing right there in the circle when the adoption was finalized, has once again offered to host at Incredible Mo's!



— Linda Sommerville, retired CFS Development Director

Food & Hygiene Drive for Youth Services

We are accepting donations for our Youth Services pantry!

CFS Youth Services supports youth who are runaway, homeless, at-risk of homelessness, or struggling with family or personal conflict. We provide counseling, resources, and basic needs.

Help us care for local youth by donating food and hygiene items. Small, everyday essentials that make a big difference.

Donations can be dropped off at our Veterans Drive office.

Intro to Foster Care

Child & Family Services invites you to an Intro to Foster Care licensing session designed for those interested in becoming foster parents. Learn about the licensing process, the need for foster homes in our community, and how you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of local children and families. Join us on June 17th at 5:45 PM to take the first step toward opening your home and heart.

Register Here

Learn More