Igniting Positive Change for Boys in Foster Care

Seven-year-old Tai* and his family sought asylum in the United States and immigrated in 2019. Due to a history of domestic violence, a family maintenance case was opened in 2020, which ultimately granted full custody to Tai’s father in 2022. At that point, his mother was no longer involved in his life. Later that year, Tai was abandoned by his father and left alone in their apartment. Frightened and unsure of what to do, Tai reached out to a family friend, who arranged for him to stay with them while efforts were made to locate his father. The family friend cared for Tai for a little while. However, because of the emotional and physical abuse he had experienced for years, Tai had developed aggressive behavioral challenges that they felt unequipped to manage in the long term. With no known whereabouts of his parents, Tai entered foster care.

At just age 11, Tai had his whole life uprooted and turned upside down after being abandoned by both of his parents, and now adjusting to living in foster care. At first, Tai struggled to live with other youth in foster care, often having his things taken, getting involved in fights, and being bullied because of his race. Tai also experienced communication challenges due to his limited proficiency in the English language. Then Tai met his Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Brian. When CASA Brian first met Tai, he did not want to talk and had little interest in going outside. Tai didn’t have many hobbies at the time because, for so long, his main priority was simply to survive. CASA Brian slowly introduced the idea of different outings they could go on to try new foods. Tai was hesitant but slowly gained more confidence as he spent more time with CASA Brian. Tai and CASA Brian share the same cultural background, so he introduced him to traditional foods he had never tried. Tai enjoyed the new foods and now asks to return for one of his favorites, Pho.

While Tai was more open to trying new foods, he still was hesitant to do any activities outside, as he had never really spent time outdoors and did not think he would like it. Nonetheless, CASA Brian continued to share different outing opportunities. Then, one day in the summer, Tai asked CASA Brian if they could go to the San Diego Zoo. CASA Brian worked with Voices for Children to obtain tickets, as this was the first time Tai had wanted to do an outdoor activity since he had met him. They had a great day together, and Tai showed fantastic growth, being open to such a new experience and showing curiosity and interest in new things. Since then, CASA Brian and Tai have attended other outdoor events and recently had a memorable experience riding multiple roller coasters at LEGOLAND.

Tai continues to blossom in his interactions with others. He shows genuine excitement about activities outside his comfort zone and keeps an open mind when forming friendships with his peers. Tai’s significant school improvement, his confidence to ask more questions in class, and his academic excellence are all signs of his progress. His journey is a testament to the positive changes that can occur with the right support and guidance.

*Names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality