Danielle came to CHM a year ago. Until she was 12 “things were good”. She was living with her mom and her father was incarcerated. “Then mom remarried,” she said. And “it” happened, she continued “and the court took me away from my mom.”

Danielle was taken to a temporary shelter and “labeled” a molested child with resulting emotional problems. When a foster mother was called to the shelter to select two girls she was asked to consider Danielle. Unfortunately, Danielle overheard her say, “I really don’t want to take her, but I suppose I can. I did drive all this way and she can probably take care of herself most of the time.”

The tone of that conversation would lay the foundation for the next eight years of Danielle's life. On that same day her foster mother also selected another child the same age as Danielle with special needs.

There are good foster care parents, but there are also the ones that just work the system. Unfortunately, Danielle's was the latter. Money, time and energy were only allotted to her foster sister. Danielle was denied the basics and told there was no money to buy things for her as the government only gave money for her sister. Danielle grew up believing she was not entitled to have anything but the barest of used clothing while her foster mother was able to take frequent expensive vacations.

Half of the time Danielle was supposed to be living with her foster mother, she was actually “farmed out” to another household where she was responsible for five younger children. There was no structure whatsoever. She would only go to school when she could muster up the incentive to do so on her own. Meals were hit and miss, cleanliness was foreign and neglect and chaos ruled. Depression started to overtake her.

At 18, Danielle was turned out of the foster system and left with virtually no life or job skills. She was able to move in with a mother of three children, but her depression deepened. When presented with an opportunity to move in with her best friend, she jumped at the chance. This would be a fateful decision, as not long after, both girls were asked to leave. They came to Covenant House Michigan seeking refuge.

Danielle also has some significant health problems. Nonetheless, she recently received her GED. She said, “I was so thrilled to be given the opportunity to go to a prom and have a graduation. I don’t know how to thank CHM. I really want to get a job now too, so I can get a place of my own.” When asked what she aspires to do she said, “I want to be a cashier in a grocery store like I did once before. I developed my own clientele because I always wear a smile.”

“I have found a family here at CHM. I love all the staff and they have done so much to help me. The other day my heart smiled for the first time in a very long time!” said Danielle.