I Want To Stay. I Feel Safe Here.

“I want to stay. I feel safe here.”

For 14-year-old Isabella, those words marked a turning point.

Isabella’s early years were marked by profound loss and instability. After losing her mother in a car accident at the tender age of four, she and her younger brother were placed in the care of their grandmother. But the home meant to protect them became another source of pain. By the time Isabella was nine, the children were removed due to neglect.

Over the next few years, Isabella was shuffled through various foster homes. One placement brought a flicker of hope: a potential adoption that would have kept the siblings together. But that hope was short-lived. The family chose to adopt her brother, leaving Isabella behind. The separation was devastating.

With each move, Isabella’s sense of security eroded further. She began avoiding school, withdrawing, and acting out. At just 12 years old, she entered a group home without her family, without her brother, and with little faith that things would ever change.

But that’s when the pieces of a new story began to come together.

Through tireless efforts by child welfare workers, a maternal cousin named Ericka—once close to Isabella’s late mother—was found. Ericka had two young children of her own, but she didn’t hesitate. She opened her heart and her home to Isabella.

That’s where Casa Pacifica stepped in.

With the support our dedicated team, including a therapist, a child and family specialist and a parent partner for Ericka, Isabella slowly began to feel safe again. Her court-appointed special advocate stood by her side, and Casa Pacifica connected the family to a community partner to help with school transitions and transport.

When Isabella experienced a mental health crisis just a few months later, it could have unraveled everything. Instead, it strengthened the bond between her and Ericka. That difficult moment helped Ericka better understand Isabella’s deep-rooted trauma and how to support her with compassion and consistency.

With ongoing therapy, wraparound support, and a growing sense of belonging, Isabella began to thrive. After a few months, the entire team agreed: Isabella had met her goals. Her grades improved. Her outlook brightened. Her smile returned.

Today, she’s working toward adoption by the only family that’s ever made her feel truly seen and loved.

Thanks to you, Isabella’s story didn’t end in heartbreak. It’s just beginning.