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.

Walking the journey together

For months, Jordan*—a kind, athletic, and good-natured teenager—had struggled to get to his alternative school program. His excuses ranged from the weather being too cold to simply not wanting to go. With no family vehicle and a reliance on a school bus he often missed, his attendance suffered, and frustration grew in his household. School attendance wasn’t just important for Jordan’s education—it was a key part of his requirements to complete probation successfully as a justice-involved youth.

After weeks of encouraging Jordan to get to school on-time, his Advocate, Curtis*, got a call from the teen’s probation officer. Jordan hadn’t showed up to school that morning.

“I was tired of him not going to school, so I went to the house to see what the problem was,” Curtis said. “It was a beautiful day in the sixties, and I could use the exercise, too. I told him we were walking to school together.”

finding creative solutions

At first, the 16-year-old thought his Advocate was joking. Even Jordan’s mom thought it was a crazy idea to walk the two miles to school.** But Curtis had spent several weeks urging Jordan to work on his attendance, and he continued to skip school. The offer to walk with him to school wasn’t about getting him to class; it was a message about how much his academic success mattered. Curtis wanted Jordan to know that his future was worth the effort, worth walking the miles, worth changing habits, and worth overcoming excuses.

“Walking to school with him was how I grabbed his attention,” Curtis said. “This showed Jordan that going to school was so important that I was going to walk with him to get him there.”

As they walked, Curtis told Jordan, “I’m doing this because I care about you and your success. I want to see you walk across that stage at graduation one day.”

Jordan didn’t enjoy the walk. About halfway there, he grumbled that he was never going to walk to school again. Curtis replied with humor, “I said the same thing back in 1994 when I graduated high school and look at me here walking to school again.”

In addition to walking, Curtis talked with Jordan about other options to get to school if he misses the bus. He showed him the city bus schedule that drops off near the alternative school and made sure he had the bus fare if he needed it. Child Advocates also gifted a bicycle to Jordan through its bike program.

Navigating the path

Part of Jordan’s reluctance to get to school is that he would rather return to the high school he attended before he became involved with the juvenile justice system. His spotty attendance at the alternative program is preventing him from being able to attend his regular high school—he must complete a certain number of days successfully at the alternative school to transfer to his preferred school.

“Jordan really wants to be back with his friends at his old high school,” Curtis said. “Going to the alternative school is a low priority for him, because he doesn’t want to be there.”

Curtis said he’s worked to help him understand that his path back to his friends and high school is through consistent attendance at the alternative school. School officials, including his teachers, report that Jordan is a nice, well-behaved teen who does well in school and doesn’t cause disruptions in class. His attendance and late arrivals are the issue.

Taking a Step in the right direction

Jordan continues to make strides toward completing his required days at the alternative school. Though not perfect, his school attendance has improved since the day Curtis walked with him. Jordan’s probation officer told the Advocate that Jordan is a good kid who wants to do the right thing and shared that he often rides his bike to school. That presented a problem because school policies prevent students from riding their bikes home—they must ride the bus. On the days, Jordan bikes to school, he can’t get the bike back home. Curtis promised him during a visit that if he bikes to school on a day that he misses the bus, he will pick it up and bring it home.

“I will take thirty minutes out of my day to make it easier for him to get to and from school,” Curtis said. “Whatever barrier I can possibly help remove to help Jordan make the right decision, I will do.”

Building trust and connection

This effort wasn’t just about logistical support; it was also about building trust and a positive relationship between an Advocate and a teen. Curtis saw the fruits of those efforts to build connection about two months after Child Advocates gave Jordan the bike. The teen had missed another day of school. Curtis visited him to discuss what happened and review the ways Jordan could get to school if he missed the bus—take the city bus, bike, or walk. After the conversation, Jordan asked Curtis if he wanted to see him “pop a wheelie.”

“He was like a little kid who wanted to show off,” Curtis said. “He showed me his trick, and I told him, ’That’s so awesome.’ He valued my opinion and wanted me to be proud of him. It was this spontaneous moment of joy.”

For Jordan, the journey isn’t over. His attendance still needs improvement, and he continues to navigate the pressures of his environment. But thanks to the unwavering dedication of his Advocate and support from his family, probation officer, and school, he’s learning that success is achievable—one step, one class, and one choice at a time.

*Names changed for privacy

**Child Advocates policies prevent Advocates from transporting children in their vehicles, so Curtis could not drive Jordan to school. Policies allow for Advocates to be in public places with a child as long as that child is old enough to be there without a caregiver.