Nadin M. / Keep pushing forward

One of my biggest challenges while in foster care was not having a stable home environment due to constantly having to be moved from foster home to foster home and group homes.

The way I was able to cope with all the changes in my life during this time was leaning on my wraparound team (mentors) and always pushing forward.

The changes that I would like to see take place within the foster care system would be more supportive and culturally accepting youth and children advocacy programs that can provide a sense of belonging and safety.

Given the experience that I had as a foster care kid, I am now able to face challenges in the work that I do providing advocacy and support to families with youth or children who are facing out-of-home placement or are in the process of reunification. What I am most proud of is being able to give back to my community by working for a nonprofit organization that prizes itself in family advocacy and supports DCFS in the department of probation systems as a parent advocate. My role is to empower and help mothers, fathers and caregivers gain independence by navigating court mandates to reunite with their children. My hopes are that in five years I will have obtained my bachelors in behavioral sciences, which will grant me the ability to accomplish my goal of being a youth probation officer.

It is my passion to advocate for children and youth who are facing similar challenges as I did when I was a foster youth myself.