Fourteen-year-old Sophie* was struggling at home and school after being removed from her mother’s custody due to her mother’s substance use disorder. Living with her aunt and uncle, Sophie could be alternately defiant and aggressive or withdrawn and unengaged. At school, she had difficulty concentrating and following instructions. She served repeated detentions. The school called her aunt and uncle to warn them that Sophie was at risk of suspension and failing most of her classes.

Last spring, Sophie and her aunt and uncle were referred to Stanford Sierra Youth & Families’ Flexible Integrated Treatment (FIT) program. FIT connected Sophie with a social worker and therapist, giving her a safe place to talk about feelings she had been keeping to herself. She was especially distressed by the possibility of never seeing her mother again. Schoolwork had begun to feel meaningless compared to the pain, uncertainty, and loss defining her life.

Through therapy, Sophie began learning to recognize and manage her emotions in healthier ways. FIT also connected her with tutoring services, which helped her with her studies and uncovered a possible learning disability. FIT then reached out to her school to make sure that her needs would be addressed.

Sophie’s aunt and uncle received support, too. FIT paired them with a Stanford Sierra family partner, staff with personal experience navigating child welfare, mental health, and other systems of care who use those insights to guide other caregivers. A Stanford Sierra social worker also helped her aunt and uncle understand how trauma was driving Sophie’s behavior, equipping them with greater patience and compassion.

With wraparound support for both Sophie and her caregivers, the family began strengthening their relationships and building a solid foundation for continued progress. Today, as Sophie starts high school, she’s getting along better with her aunt, uncle, teachers, and peers. Therapy has helped ease her anxiety and depression, and she continues to develop healthy coping skills. As she experiences success at home and at school, her confidence and sense of self-worth are growing. These improvements motivate her to continue what she’s started.

Most importantly, Sophie knows she isn’t facing these challenges alone. She knows her aunt and uncle are in her corner, and that Stanford Sierra Youth & Families will be there to support all three of them as they continue their journey together.

* Name and other details changed for privacy