Kyra, a 16 year-old teenage parent, had a 1 year-old daughter. Kyra lived with her mother, who was using drugs and was physically abusive. When Kyra arrived at school with bruises resulting from her mother’s abuse, Student Parenting and Family Services notified DCF and helped Kyra contact a family friend who agreed to let Kyra and her daughter stay in her apartment temporarily. 

 

This friend, however, had a very low income, and was struggling to care for her own family, including providing food, pampers, toiletries or beds for Kyra and her daughter, who had to sleep on a blanket on the floor. Student Parenting and Family Services was able to purchase a futon mattress for Kyra and her daughter to sleep on, as well as food, pampers and toiletries, so Kyra and her daughter were able to remain together in that home until DCF finished its investigation and placed Kyra and her daughter together in a foster home.