A child has spent most of her life being bounced between different family members since she was an infant (click here to read the article). At the age of 16 years old she was faced with the challenge of being placed into a group home of girls.

The Department of Children and Families allowed the teenager to live with her coach from school. The teacher did not have children of her own but found a place in her heart for this child.

The two have grown into a family the year they have been together. This is considered a non-relative placement which means Tracy covers all of Brittany’s expenses. The state provides no money since Tracy is not a foster parent or a direct relative. The problem is not her daily care; it is the other support that Brittany has lost because she wanted to live with her coach instead of living in foster care with strangers.

College is a huge issue for them. Tracy has taken foster parent classes and in the process of getting her foster care licenses, so Brittany may get some services that she needs to attend college. At this time Brittany is unable to participate in scholarship programs for foster children that could allow her to receive money for college and housing. She is also unable to receive independent living help which includes classes to learn life skills. Brittany has a caseworker, a guardian ad litem and Tracy does have to attend DCY court hearings, just as anyone involved in foster care , they just do not receive the benefits.

The child has been given a great chance at a life being placed with someone that cared about her. Tracy is waiting for her license as a foster parent to be able to offer Brittany the services, so she can attend college in the future.



“The real price of everything, what everything really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.”
Adam Smith