Cassie came to our Second Story for Homeless Youth struggling, young, and alone. She was seeking help in order to stay in school, get on track, and build a life. However, not long after settling into the program, it became clear to the staff that Cassie was falling behind for someone her age. Making matters worse, Cassie felt humiliated by this and believed that she was permanently “stupid.” After getting to know Cassie better, our staff believed that there was more to Cassie’s situation than met the eye and that what she was experiencing was a result of an undiagnosed medical condition.
The staff scoured the pool of resources available at Second Story and found a way to get Cassie an appointment with a doctor who determined that she had an undiscovered learning disability. What at first seemed like bad news was actually a blessing to Cassie and the Second Story staff because it meant she could finally get the attention and care she needed.
Over the course of several months, program staff pushed for Cassie to be placed in a school that would accommodate her specific needs. In addition to specialized education, Cassie was also able to enroll in job training classes within the school. With great enthusiasm, and a healthy backing of encouragement from the Homeless Youth Initiative staff, Cassie began classes this past September! She is building skills that accommodate her learning needs and she works hard, daily, to increase her potential to be successful in the future! This is one of many ways Second Story transforms the lives of young people.
