Believe in Family

This is the year Jessica’s world changed.

Just 17, the young Tampa, Fla., girl grew up hard. Sometimes, her family lived in shelters; sometimes, the older children were taken into the child welfare system. Youth Villages Senior Counselor Mandy Carr helped Jessica return home from a residential stay.

Jessica’s mother, Judy, said the counselor helped heal the entire family.

“Mandy was the inspiration that my family needed,” she said.

Spurred by her counselor, Jessica began identifying her strengths and learned to work toward goals. She’s completing a GED course and will soon start at community college. She would like to be a veterinarian. Her mother is a believer.

“Jessica has overcome a lot of hurdles in her life,” Judy said.

“I see her making it now. She’s on task and doing awesome.”