It was a sad day for me with our girls this afternoon. I had talked to one girl, Natalie, for a short time yesterday, but we spent much more time together today and I was really touched by her story, which she wasn't shy about sharing. When she was 15 (she'll be 17 next month) she was assaulted and raped by three boys. Her parents are divorced, but her dad has another family and her mom still lets him come back when he wants to. She ran away shortly after the assault because everyone, including her mother, blamed her for it. I'm sure there's more to that story, but this was what she told me. She ran away, quit going to school, got a job in a convenience store, and lived in an apartment (not exactly sure how that was possible). When she went home to see her mother, the mom called the cops who came and got her.

She's been at Krause for seven months and just seems so lost. I really got attached to her in a short period of time. When we left the girls, I went to speak to Amanda, the head therapist, to ask if I could mentor her, too. I was devastated when she told me that Natalie has not made any progress since she's been there so will be going back to detention next week, although she doesn't know it yet. Amanda said that Natalie is a manipulator like her dad and has continued to act out on a regular basis despite intensive therapy and medication. I'm so sad about this and decided to ask again tomorrow if I can at least visit her this weekend. I expect I'll be told no, but I have to try. This is the risk I take for working with these kids, but it's something I just have to do.