An Uncertain

Future: A Story
Of Blake Martin
 Every day children across the country are
removed from their homes and placed in foster
care. Many of these kids have suffered from
abuse and neglect, and their road to recovery can
be long and arduous.
This is a glimpse into the life of Blake Martin, a
current foster child.
Blake had his first encounter with DCFS at the tender
age of 6, his parents had a domestic violence
incident, and Child Protective Services became
involved. This cycle of violence and state intervention
went on until Blake turned 9, and his mother took
him and his younger brother to a womens shelter to
escape the abuse.
 By age 11, Blake was
living in a meth house
and barely attending
school.
His mother had fallen
back into her drug
addiction, and the two
young boys were left
to fend for themselves
most days.
There was little to no
parental supervision.
 By age 12, Blake was temporarily in the custody of his aunt,
awaiting a decision from the court as to where he was going to
live. After many months with his aunt, the court determined that
Blake needed daily therapy and supervision, and he was placed in
a group home for troubled teens. He had been separated from his
brother, the last of his immediate family.
He remained in this group home through his 14th birthday. Once
released, he went to a foster home, the first of many.
There were glimpses of hope
when two different foster
homes talked about
adopting him. He didnt know why he
He panicked at the thought was pushing people
of being rejected, so he away, or why he was
pushed back by yelling and so scared to trust
doing what he had learned. others.
The families sent him on to
other families. He created
what he feared most,
rejection.
 Blake knows that he is approaching the age where teens must
leave their foster homes and learn to fend for themselves. He
fears this stage in his life because he doesnt feel he is equipped
with a strong support network and the knowledge of how to
survive.

I just want what other kids have. I want a

family I have a hard time fitting into a
family that isn't going to be mine down the
road. (Blake)
 Utah has a program to assist teens aging out of foster care.
TAL transition to adult living helps these teens to find jobs,
affordable housing, and transportation.
Many of these teens need more guidance to survive as adults.
"Each year, about 30,000 foster care
youth age out of the foster care
system. Many of them exit without
finding a stable, affordable,
permanent living arrangement (e.g.,
with family or another household). An
estimated 14-30 percent of these
youth will experience at least one
night of homelessness in the first one
to three years following
emancipation" (Richards 19).
According to Brian Campbell, owner and therapist at Light
House Therapeutic Boarding School. many kids feel alone
and overwhelmed even with programs like these, there is a
lack of family type support, and this often ends in children
running out to join gangs or becoming homeless because
there is no parental direction.

Many foster kids have been through a rough upbringing and

struggle to break away from negative behaviors they have
learned.
 Blakes younger brother was adopted by someone in their
biological family. Though
Blakes younger brother he
wasis adopted
happy forbyhis brother,inhetheir
someone feels
like no he
biological family. Though oneis wants
happy him.
for his brother, he feels
like no one wants him.

"most teens in foster care will leave the child welfare system by
aging out of care without an adoptive family, many without
even having formed a caring, consistent relationship with an
adult." (Ahmann 43)
 Despite having so many
obstacles and an uncertain
future, Blake remains hopeful
for a better life...
I want to play college
football if I have a family of
m own, I will be a better dad
than I had!
(Blake)
We can only hope that this
boy finds his forever family.
Work Cited:
Ahmann, Elizabeth. "Supporting Youth Aging out of Foster Care." Pediatric Nursing, vol. 43, no. 1, Jan/Feb2017, pp.
43-48.
EBSCOhost,libprox1.slcc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=1213536
04&site=eds-live.

CAMPBELL, Brian. Personal Communication, September 13th 2017.

Martin, Blake. Personal Interview

RICHARDS, G. (2014). "AGING OUT" GRACEFULLY: Housing and Helping Youth Transition Smoothly out of the Foster
Care System. Journal Of Housing & Community Development, 71(4), 18-21.