“My goal in life has always been to be successful. I feel like I’m moving in the right direction, my main priority used to be school school school, as an adult, it’s to make money. So I’m doing the best I can for what I can do right now.”
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Alyssa was raised by her parents and grandparents in her grandmother’s rat-infested house until she was three years old. Alyssa and her 4 siblings were then brought to California, and placed in foster care a year later due to their parent’s drug use.
Alyssa and her siblings moved from home to home throughout their time in foster care – frequently hungry, neglected and unmotivated – until one day, she went to a transitional housing facility through DCFS. There, she found friendship, advisors, support and ultimately, her job at the County.
“I believe that I was meant to be here at DCFS to make a difference; Perhaps not as a social worker, but someone from behind the scenes that can really help these kids succeed in life and help the system become the best it could be. To expose these foster parents for who they really are and why they are really doing this. To help parents and kids alike become the mothers, fathers, and children, all children of God find their purpose in him, and on this earth.”
*In order to protect the anonymity and privacy of our families, names have been changed and photos are randomized.