Hope in Action is a series to highlight the aspects of our volunteer work. Advocacy for a child, whether in child welfare, juvenile justice, or truancy systems, covers several activities from court hearings to visits with a child to conversations with parents. Each month, we share a story of small (or big!) moments from one of our cases that exemplify what advocacy can mean to children and their families.

The First Graduate

A Decision That Changed Everything

Kicked out of her home and frightened, 16-year-old Ashley* made a decision while trying to survive on her own that landed her in the juvenile detention center. This high school junior was now facing serious consequences for her actions, and her dream of graduating with her class seemed impossible.

A Difficult Home Life

Ashley was a kid without much support. She grew up in a home with abuse and addiction. Her father struggled with alcohol and physical health issues, her mother struggled with drug addiction and mental health.

Earlier in high school, Ashley got pregnant. Now she was raising her three-year-old daughter, Claire*, in her parents’ home without any help from the father of her child. Her mom used access to food to manipulate Ashley along with other forms of emotional, medical, and physical abuse.

Despite her challenges as a single mom, Ashley continued to attend high school. As legal hurdles stacked up, she started to lose hope that she would finish high school.

An Advocate Steps Up

When Ashley began probation early in her senior year, the judge appointed Stephanie*, a volunteer Advocate, to represent her best interests. In their first meetings, Stephanie asked about Ashley’s life, grades, and school experience to build trust and get to know her.

“Someone showing interest in her was unusual, so that motivated her,” Stephanie said. “She’d kind of given up, and she was disappointed. I asked her, ‘If you could do anything, what would you do?’”

Ashley shared her dream of becoming a choir director, her favorite class in school.

“I told her, ‘OK, let’s graduate and look at some colleges nearby,’” Stephanie said.

Building Hope Step by Step

The goal of graduation seemed out of reach, though, as Ashley struggled to keep up with her child’s care, schoolwork, and other responsibilities. She quickly became overwhelmed and discouraged.

Using the framework she’d learned in Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life, Stephanie worked with Ashley to help her set small goals so that she could reach her big one of graduating high school. Stephanie also helped her find pathways toward reaching those small goals.

“I helped her walk through her day and identify how she spent her time,” Stephanie said. “We blocked her day in fifteen-minute increments so that she had time to spend with Claire, get schoolwork done, and take care of herself too.”

As she moved toward her goals, Stephanie also helped her build a circle of support so that she was surrounded by encouraging people.

“We worked with her teachers, the assistant principal, and counselor to keep her on track for graduation,” she said. “She’s active in her church and has a really good youth leader. She also had a fantastic probation officer who cheered her on.”

Transformation

Stephanie began to see a change in Ashley as the case progressed and she met many of her goals, including completing her probation requirements.

“When I first met her, her eyes were dull—she had no spunk,” Stephanie said. “About three months later, she had some light in her eyes.”

Backed by her team of support, Ashley made progress, step-by-step. Her team also helped her get access to documents she would need when she turned 18: birth certificate, social security card, and driver’s license.

During her senior year, she completed probation successfully. With her case closed, Ashley no longer needed an Advocate, but she and Stephanie stayed connected.

“She knows she can call me any time, and I’m not going to judge,” Stephanie said. “We’ll talk through the pros and cons of the situation.”

A Dream Realized

Ashley graduated with her class this May, achieving the dream she thought was impossible.

Her support system remains strong. Along with Stephanie and her youth leader, her probation officer also stayed in touch after the case closed.

“She has a chance now,” Stephanie said. “I’m hoping the three of us will guide her in the right direction.”

Breaking the Cycle

Ashley is the first person in her family to graduate from high school.

This is more than a diploma—she has become a role model for her daughter and others in her community. With the help of her team, Ashley learned how to nurture hope not just for herself but for Claire, breaking the patterns she was born into.

“We didn’t do anything out of the ordinary,” Stephanie said. “It was just showing up for her, being there when she needed someone. That little difference and stability can shift a child’s life so quickly.”

*Names changed for privacy.