Tim joined our YAI Independent Living Program at age 16 after a series of mental health hospitalizations, a failed adoption (adopted at age 5 and returned to the foster care system at age 13), two failed treatment foster care placements and a residential treatment facility placement. Tim was traumatized and untrusting having been abandoned by both his birth family and his adoptive family and was failing in school. He was diagnosed with ADHD and Intermittent Explosive Disorder and was prescribed a variety of psychotropic medications. During Tim’s YAI intake his interview he was able to express his anger and sadness and demonstrated a real desire to work with his DSS worker and YAI staff to change his prospects for the future.

Tim was placed in a family setting with a strong male role model and one-on-one support relationship. He worked diligently on anger management and was able to gradually reduce and discontinue all medication by the time he graduated from high school. Tim worked part-time for the entire 5 years he was in the YAI Program and graduated on time from an inner city high school. Coincidentally he was the only white youth in his graduating class. Tim took charge of his life and his career path, adamantly refusing to go to college (a stressor he believed was not in his best interest) while working hard to move into increasingly more responsible jobs in the security field. He eventually secured a full time position as a guard in Baltimore's Supermax prison.

Tim's ability to maintain composure in difficult situations, an innate talent, was regained and strengthened during his five years of ongoing support from the YAI program. Tim has been able to support himself and his child since he turned 21 and exited the foster care system. He demonstrates a healthy child centered emotional bond with his toddler age daughter. Also, he describes being pointedly vested in her care, growth and development as a result of having struggled successfully with his own abandonment issues. Tim presents as a poised, well-spoken young man with clear plans for the future. He has been accepted for state trooper training, is living within his means with savings in the bank and is already talking about early retirement.