Most teenagers in stable homes are posturing for independence from their parents. However, as a foster teens’ chances of belonging to a loving family come to an end, they still hope for a place and people to call home. The irony hurts every time I think about it. It was then that I felt one of my callings in life was to help children. During graduate school, I elected to intern at Kaiser Permanente’s Child and Adolescent Clinic, where I helped children and adolescents struggling with issues such as depression, ADHD, substance abuse and panic disorders. I noticed parents with distressed marriages were hampered in their ability to provide treatment support for their children. And, I also saw that some of my young patients’ behavioral challenges closely correlated with the strength of their parents’ relationship.
