“Zoe’s” parents were abusive. Her earliest memories weren’t filled with family dinner or a bedtime story, but instead with Child Protective Services (CPS) removing her from her mom and dad’s home. As she grew up, she moved around among other family members and then back to her parents, but the abuse never left her home. Not long after moving back in her parents kicked her out and Child Protective Services came back for her.
Zoe needed a place where she was safe — a place where she could focus on her own wellness. So, CPS introduced Zoe and her family to Second Story for Teens in Crisis. Zoe settled into her first safe place in a long time, and once she felt secure she opened up to the counselors and staff about her memories of abuse and her feelings of being unwanted, unloved, and abandoned.
The staff at Second Story came together to help Zoe. They taught her ways to cope with everything changing around her and her new living situation. When Zoe left the shelter she moved into a safe, stable home with a family member — the start of her second story.
