Justin

Justin came into State custody as a four-year--old.  He was severely neglected and abused as a child, and had complications of mental illness and retardation due to his mother's drug use while she was pregnant.

Justin bounced from foster home to foster home, residential care settings and hospitals for many years before coming to a very special and determined foster mother.

This foster mom immediately asked for mentoring services for him. Justin's mentor has stuck by him through 3 years of tough times, teaching him better ways to handle stress, and teaching more positive relationship skills. Justin's latest accomplishment, getting a job, was something his mentor had encouraged even though others on the team felt the expectation was much too high for Justin. 

Justin and his mentor meet twice a month now and spend the whole day together. This consistency gives Justin a positive outlet, and at the same time provides a day long break to the foster mother.