Mommy's little girl. Spoiled from everything she ever wanted to a head full of curls. The baby and only girl of 3. And, in her mind, money sure did grow on trees.

Until the little girl's nightmare became a true deja vue. The most impossible thing to her came true. Her mom died of breast cancer and every fear in the world began to chase after her. Like being in the courtroom for the first time. Just the thought of the judge made tears escape from her eye.

Her placement was hard at first because, in her mind, she went from good to worse. The social worker told her it would work out. Yet her mind was full of so many doubts.

Her grades dropped. And her self-respect was about to stop. Then, she joined CYC (California Youth Connection) and found out what the system and foster youth was about.

Her social workers found her hidden talents and put them to play. And she follows those same dreams and goals today.

Once known for being shy. But, if you ask her to speak now, she would at the drop of a dime.

From being told she had no foundation to becoming a youth delegate in the United Nations, from representing foster youth from California all the way to Washington D.C. And, maintaining a family within CYC.

Even though her mother wasn't there physically to watch her grow, she still managed to graduate from high school with almost a 3.0.

The little girl realized situations come with no invitations, and sometimes leave with no explanations. But she knew it was up to her to work hard to get to her final destination.

Too bad the little girl couldn't be here. For your own eyes to see. Cause now she is grown up and the little girl was me.

Brought to you by the Los Angeles County
Emancipation Services and Independent Living Program (ES/ILP)
L.A. COUNTY TRANSITION PARTNERSHIP

Thank you for visiting our Emancipation Program website. Please continue to contact us with your comments and suggestions. We need and welcome your participation to make this site a vibrant source of information for all youth transitioning from foster care in Los Angeles County. If you have information to share on our site or experience a problem with the site (e.g. nonfunctioning link), please contact Terence Rice via email at ricet@dcfs.co.la.ca.us

The Emancipation Program receives a set budget every year from state and federal government sources. Resources are distributed according to need and not as an entitlement. Since the budget is limited, please note that the services and benefits described in this website are available to eligible transitioning youth 16 - 20 in Los Angeles County, on a needs-basis, until all funds are spent for the fiscal year (there are some ILP services available for youth 14 - 15). Some of the resources are listed for your information and ARE NOT to be considered an endorsement by Los Angeles County.