Samantha
“Stanford Youth Solutions gave me the support and encouragement I needed to get back in touch with my family,” Samantha says. “I was able to get my life in order.”

Success Story Samantha, 16 years old

Teen mom Samantha knows first-hand how important it is to create a safe, loving family for her two-year old daughter, Tiffany.

At just 16 years old with an infant to care for, Samantha was living in a group home for young mothers. Feeling isolated with the weight and responsibility of being the sole caregiver for her daughter, Samantha began to unravel. With no support system, she soon found herself getting into trouble with the law and began to see her bright future slip away from her and her daughter.

A probation officer working on Samantha’s case saw that she would benefit from the family-centered services and support provided by Stanford Youth Solutions.

Through the individualized mental-health services and one-on-one assistance with the practicalities of raising a child, Samantha learned to become self-sufficient.

Stanford Youth Solutions’s staff helped Samantha reconnect with her mother and sister living in Louisiana, even arranging for Samantha to visit. Re-establishing those key relationships gave Samantha the foundation she needed to create a positive change in her life. Under her own initiative, she continues to reach out to family, strengthening her network of support.

Since working with Stanford Youth Solutions, Samantha’s long term goals are to finish her education and become a probation officer to help more youth like her overcome obstacles that threaten their futures.

She credits Stanford Youth Solutions with giving her the tools to create a stable and loving home connected with family that both she and her daughter deserve. “Stanford Youth Solutions gave me the support and encouragement I needed to get back in touch with my family,” Samantha says. “I was able to get my life in order.”