The writer's mom was very abusive when she drank, and the writer went into care. Her mother slowly got sober, and the family was reunited, but it wasn't a happy ending. [more]

In the third of K.G.'s stories, she evaluates all the interactions she had with child welfare workers around her mother's alcoholism. She turns her experience into useful tips for workers. [more]

The author's mother abused him when she was drunk and high, and he went into care. An illness in their family makes him realize he'd rather forgive her than stay mad. [more]
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After inpatient rehab, K.G.'s mom quickly relapses. K.G. realizes that she can't make her mom stop drinking and that she shouldn't keep hiding her situation from others. Second of three stories. [more]
[LESSON PLAN]

A.H. interviews Kama Einhorn, creator of Karli, a new Muppet who's in foster care because her mom suffers from addiction. Kama explains how to explain addiction to very young children. [more]

Advice from an expert on what young people should know and do if their parents have a substance abuse problem, including how to handle reunifying with parents after leaving foster care. Reprinted from FCYU-2007-09-07. [more]

K.G. tries to counteract the terror of seeing her mother disappear into addiction and her discomfort when social workers show up in their home. The first of her three stories in the issue. [more]

Fair Futures is a New York City program that provides foster youth and former foster youth with an education coach from 9th grade to age 26. [more]

Ericka tries the Dorm Project for a year. She experiences sexual harassment, verbal abuse, identity theft, and other affronts. She likes her tutor but not living in the dorm. [more]

Options is a college prep program free to all New York City students. Also listed here are other free education programs. [more]