Getting Off the Streets – Samantha’s Story
When Measure Y provider staff met "Samantha" she was 15 years old, living with her pimp, being exploited as a child prostitute. She had been living this way off and on for the past several years. Samantha’s introduction to sexual exploitation in the form of child prostitution was by her mother before the age of ten, in exchange for drugs in order to support her mother’s habit. Samantha was removed from her home at a very early age and had spent half of her life in the foster care system. At the time staff met Samantha, she was AWOL from an Oakland, court-appointed foster care group home placement.
Staff connected with Samantha through her assigned Child Welfare Worker, who had just picked her up from the Alameda County Assessment Center. Samantha had just returned from a period of AWOL and her Child Welfare Worker was desperately trying to connect her with a SEM-specific service before placing her in a group home. Thankfully, Samantha was connected with Adela, of MISSSEY, a Measure Y provider, before being placed in a group home. Unfortunately, due to several compounding factors, Samantha AWOLed from the group home within a week.
Even though Samantha has come into contact with dozens of people who were in positions to support her, Samantha managed to keep in contact with Adela during her period of AWOL. Adela immediately assisted her in setting and achieving small goals, which began to transition her back into life. Adela continued to work with Samantha on and off for about six months during which time Samantha obtained all of her vital records, including her state ID, birth certificate, medical records, health records and school records.
During this intermittent time Adela was able to build a bond of trust with Samantha and became a great source for positive change in her life. A few months later Samantha was arrested in another city for prostitution. The police department in that city was able to contact Adela to verify that Samantha was in fact a minor. Adela, having retained copies of all of Samantha’s vital records, was able to get that info to the police department and Samantha was quickly transferred to the county juvenile detention facility rather than being placed in a county jail.
Once brought to the juvenile county facility, Adela was able to work with her Child Welfare Worker, Public Defender, District Attorney assigned to the case as well as her Probation Office to come up with the best plan of action for Samantha’s release. When she was released, Adela then connected her with Sarai, of MISSSEY, for long-term, intensive treatment. Since Samantha was released and connected with Sarai she has remained in her original group home placement without any incidences of AWOL. Sarai was able to assist her in enrolling in an educational program, which she has completed on time. Now Samantha is exploring further educational options and has recently gained employment. She has already faced her first major challenge and has been able to overcome it. Adela continues to support Samantha through a volunteer program, Court Appointed Special Advocates. We are very proud of Samantha and feel that she is a great success. She will continue to succeed in life!
A child with her personal and family history and current conditions had a very high chance of a life of despair. The intervention that MISSSEY were able to initiate and carry out, available only because of Measure Y funding, has helped to change the direction and add new dimensions to this child’s life.
