From Overwhelming to Thriving: Supporting a Teen Guardian and Her Little Sister

A 17-year-old student had taken on immense responsibility: marrying to emancipate herself from her mother and then gaining custody of her 4-year-old sister after the mother lost parental rights. The weight of it all led her to consider dropping out of school to focus entirely on caring for her sibling.

With the school social worker, Communities In Schools intervened decisively. We successfully enrolled the younger sister in CHOICES pre-K for early education and reliable daytime care. We guided the teen through every step of DHHR paperwork and benefits applications, helped locate safe housing, secured utility bill discounts, and connected her to programs that assisted with paying essential bills.

Without this targeted, comprehensive support, she would likely have left school with no resources or safety net. Instead, she remained enrolled, is now thriving academically and emotionally, and has grown to trust and actively seek our guidance. This powerful example shows how CIS can step in during crisis—coordinating childcare, housing, financial relief, and benefits—so young people facing adult-level challenges can stay in school, build stability, and create a hopeful future for themselves and their loved ones.