When Maisie was thirteen, Child Protective Services (CPS) removed her from her parents’ home to protect her from domestic violence. Afterwards she was placed with her grandmother, who lived close by. When the grandmother was unable to care for Maisie, CPS placed Maisie with an aunt who lived in a different town.

Maisie really struggled at her new school, sometimes she refused to attend, and she was confrontational with her aunt. She ignored house rules and often broke curfew. One day she and a group of other kids cut class and got into a fight at a nearby park. Already in trouble for unexcused absences, Maisie was in danger of being expelled from school. That’s when she was matched with Kara, an adult volunteer in Stanford Sierra’s Wonder Mentoring Program. Wonder matches youth in foster care one-to-one with adult volunteer mentors.  The relationship and trust that develop between a child and their Wonder mentor can help the child heal from trauma and develop the social and emotional skills needed to form other healthy relationships. These skills are the foundation for success and happiness in nearly every area of life.

Maisie and Kara first met in the backyard of Maisie’s aunt’s house. Maisie drummed her fingers on the patio table and looked everywhere but at Kara. Kara had been through a lot as a young person, too. She knew what it was like to be hurt and angry. Kara asked Maisie questions, sometimes Maisie answered, sometimes she didn’t.

Over time, Maisie opened up to Kara. She talked about what she’d been through and how much she missed her old friends.  Sometimes Kara shared her own experiences, but mostly she listened. When Maisie confided that she wanted to be a nurse, Kara encouraged her to make a plan. Today, Maisie is working with a tutor to improve her grades.  After she graduates high school, she plans to enroll in community college and then enter a nursing program at a four-year university. Her relationship with her aunt has also improved. Although she can feel overwhelmed at times, she knows her aunt and Kara are there for her. When asked why she wants to be a nurse, Maisie said, “Because helping people feels good.”

*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.