Mariah Lopez is the group home child from hell. She has a “lengthy” record of skipping school, acting out, insulting staff, going AWOL, and more.

--Mariah says that the root of her problems was that she was, “trying to find a place where I belonged.” Trying to find that place led her to risky places, taking drugs, and bouncing from placement to placement. Do other foster teens face a similar problem—that they never really feel “right” in their placements? If so, how does that affect their behavior? Could agencies and staff (and foster parents) do more to make young people feel more comfortable with their placements? Or do teens just have to keep bouncing until they find what’s right for them?

Activity: Each teen describes or writes a list of items that would make a placement feel right for them. Teens compare lists. They also compare what is on their lists with the actual conditions of their placement. Do the lists suggest any changes that could be made? Discuss with staff.