Tori's Story | A Fostering and Adoption Story

Tori Hope Peterson is an inspiring former foster youth who shares her heart-wrenching experience of living with a mother with mental illness, being separated from her sister, moving through 12 foster homes and eventually aging out of the system. Her life was transformed by a track coach who believed in her, welcomed her into the life of his family, and shared the love of God with her. Tori encourages each of us to do something to help children in foster care.
For more stories, to find support in your foster and adoption journey, or to start a foster and adoption ministry in your church, go to springsoflove.org.

[@kathymclaughlin3327]

Thank you for sharing. You are truly gifted .

[@danktankdragkings7117]

I'm a CASA! Court Appointed Special Advocates for foster youth. My job is to make sure her needs are getting met, that she understands the legalese and process, that she has a person outside the home (which they know can be disrupted easily) to love and care. My kiddo is my kiddo. I follow her from appointment til the day she leaves care be it adoption or independent housing. I write a report every month about where she is and how she is doing (school, medical, house, etc), I provide an invaluable third party check on DCF. The foster mom has an agenda, DCF has an agenda, the bio parent has an agenda. The Casa's only agenda is an update for the court and being an auntie to a kid who doesn't have one (many). It's a small commitment to see the kid for at least one hour a month , (we often go window shopping or touring our town), just something she wants to do that doesn't have to be with all 7 people in their foster home. And then write a report and keep my supervisor updated. Seriously for 10-15 hours a month maximum (if you got lots of court dates you can be a lifeline to someone. As she said you can change the trajectory of someone's life. She may not believe it yet but that girl is mine. I'm gonna be 50 helping her as a 23 year old woman very confused how to apply for housing and a car loan. She may age out (hopefully not we still have 9 years) but she won't be without family even if my husband and I cannot adopt at this time.