The 15-year-old was removed from the family home in late May. Due to prolonged neglect and sexual abuse, she has significant trauma. Like many kids in Wisconsin foster care, Cathy has not experienced many basic activities life offers. She recently went into a grocery store for the first time in her life with her foster mom. She was utterly overwhelmed.
If you are exploring becoming a foster parent, we encourage you to consider helping a teen like Cathy. She is no different than most kids in foster care. She is a survivor. She struggles to trust. She is vulnerable. She is hurting. Like thousands of other Wisconsin teens, she needs caring people like you to consider fostering a teen and changing a life.
Cathy is one of nearly 40 youths referred to CCR in the last three weeks. Her story is heartbreaking, and because of it, her trauma runs deep. She exemplifies what happens to innocent children when severely neglected and abused. Sadly, brain development is stunted. In addition, a lack of exposure to "normal" daily living activities creates additional trauma, emotions, and behaviors. A structured, stable foster home environment can provide significant opportunities for healing and growth. Like most other youth in care, Cathy requires a foster home able to support her with patience, consistency, and flexibility.
There is a no-contact order with her father due to significant sexual abuse. Communication with her mom has been attempted but can be very difficult. Their relationship is volatile and unpredictable. Any visitations with Mom must be carefully planned due to a substantial bed bug issue in the home. Transmission of bugs should be avoided. Cathy is angry and expresses she has no desire to see her mom.
Cathy is currently placed in a temporary foster home while the referring County searches for a long-term, stable placement for her. She likes her privacy, and being alone is comforting and important to her. She is creative and enjoys arts and crafts and talking with others. She is easy to get along with and likes jigsaw puzzles and the foster family dog.
Like many teens, she loves video games. Unfortunately, Cathy cannot play unsupervised because of a history of inappropriate online behavior. It is reported that Cathy has solicited sex online, sent suggestive communications, and has had sexual relations with a 25-year-old man. Cathy does have a cell phone, although her current foster mom uses a structured phone schedule and supervises content.
The current foster mom states Cathy can sometimes use inappropriate language around young children. She doesn't understand what is considered "bad language," nor that young kids haven't been exposed to many of the things that she has been. Cathy lacks boundaries.
Basic hygiene reminders are necessary. Showering, deodorant, and feminine hygiene are constant reminders. Cathy suffers from severe dental neglect, which will require extraction and dentures. A dentist is currently evaluating her, and a plan for dental work will be formulated. Like many youth in foster care, Cathy needs help learning basic everyday things she was never taught to do.
Although Cathy has completed her first year of high school, she tests at a 4th-grade level for reading and writing. In addition, she has an IEP and behavior plan at school. While living with her parents, she required a lot of extra help every morning upon arrival at school due to a bed bug issue at home. She reports that it was hard and uncomfortable starting her day that way. A new school would give Cathy the fresh start she deserves.
Like many teens, she sleeps a lot. However, the current team suspects this may be related to medication. She is seen for med management and attends therapy twice weekly.
Due to extensive sexual abuse and trauma, Cathy has chosen not to use her given name since coming into care. She states that "Courtney" is the one that experienced the abuse, which is why the name change is so important. Her dad and mom hurt Courtney. She believes using a new name will help her sort through her past.
Teens like Cathy are referred to CCR every day. They are kids hoping for a stable, loving, safe place to call home—a home where adults can be trusted, and kids can begin to heal. We are able to place a small percentage of kids referred to us. We just don't have enough foster families for teens.
We did not have a home in the right county location for Cathy, so the referring county continued its search. In part, CCR turns away a very high percentage of referred teens because foster parents, new and experienced, fear the unknown. The majority of foster families are afraid of troubled teens. The reality is these are good kids. Good kids who survived at the hands of adults that failed them. You can help!
Please get in touch with us to learn more about fostering teens and how you can begin your fostering journey. Qualify to be a foster parent and get started today.
