Whitney* is a thoughtful and motivated young person who finds joy in cooking, reading, and listening to music – especially the timeless sounds of Stevie Wonder. She also loves watching movies. Whitney has a clear vision for her future: she wants to earn her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license and work in a hospital or clinic, helping others and building a career she can be proud of.
Whitney was first connected with LCYC through a social worker at Seattle Children’s Hospital during a temporary stay. She spent a lot of time bouncing between different shelters in Washington before eventually ending up at Cascade Job Corps, a program that provides young people between ages 16-24, who meet a low-income threshold, with supports around housing, career training, and education programs. Here, she began working with LCYC’s Youth Homelessness Program (YHP) and our partnership with Friends of Youth and YMCA, the Youth Engagement Team (YET).
Whitney was facing significant challenges – living at Job Corps and trying to complete her GED while navigating a complicated and unsupported relationship with her mother. Whitney’s main goal was to become emancipated so she could make her own legal decisions. Her mother refused to provide the basic support that Whitney needed to succeed, and that lack of stability made it hard for her to move forward. Before deciding on independence, Whitney and her LCYC attorney explored the possibility of a Child in Need of Services (CHINS) petition. However, that idea was ultimately scrapped as Whitney’s mother refused to participate in services to better their relationship. Despite these obstacles, Whitney remained focused. With the help of her LCYC attorney and many other support networks, her emancipation petition was filed and granted.
Receiving legal emancipation was a turning point for Whitney. While she had already been taking care of herself in many ways, having legal recognition of her independence brought a new sense of security and freedom. It allowed her to move forward without the limitations that had once held her back.
Unfortunately, Whitney soon encountered a setback when the United States Department of Labor suddenly announced they were closing all Job Corps programs. The decision to close Job Corps put Whitney in a challenging position and required her to alter her plans after already overcoming so many other barriers to get emancipated. Because of this announcement, Whitney had to leave the program before finishing her GED. Later, the Department of Labor’s attempt to end Job Corps programs was halted by a federal court injunction, but the concern and uncertainty surrounding this situation felt unreliable and stressful.
Though a difficult setback, Whitney is determined to complete her GED as soon as she’s settled into her new living situation. Now, with her emancipation in place, Whitney is focused on starting a new chapter. After years of being restricted and held back, she finally has room to grow.
Whitney is deeply grateful for the people who have support her along the way – from shelter staff to legal advocates to anyone else who provided support. Their belief in her gave her strength when she needed it most. Now with a renewed sense of purpose, Whitney is ready to complete her education, pursue a career in healthcare, and create a life filled with opportunity, self-reliance, and hope.
*The client’s name has been changed to protect their privacy. LCYC was given permission to share their story.