When I turned 13, life circumstances led me to spend my teenage years in Kinship care. My passion grew when I volunteered for a nonprofit that served underprivileged youth in high school in Rhode Island. Undergrad, I majored in Psychology with minors in Women and Gender Studies and Peace and Justice Studies. I had the privilege and honor of obtaining legal custody of my mother's best friend's then-13-year-old son shortly after graduation. A year later, I enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Reserve component for three years while earning my Master's degree in Children and Families Social Work. I met my husband near the end of my first year of graduate school. By graduation, we had married, and I had been commissioned as a Field Medical Officer in the United States Army, where I served for three years. My husband and I have two boys together. My eldest is now 22 years old, has a child of his own, and the twins are now 2. Hope's Journey was create because I see daily and experienced growing up how one caring and consistent adult in a child's life, especially ones in the foster care and Kinship network, can make a big difference. It was because of the people, programs and services in my youth that contributed to the person I am today. If Hope's Journey Youth Services can help restore hope to any youth in foster or kinship care through its programs and/or services I would consider that Mission accomplished.
At Hope’s Journey Youth Services Inc., we understand the need to be flexible, patient, understanding, encouraging and responsive to meet the needs of the youth by offering them quality and effective care.
