Moore has overcome many obstacles as a foster child in the District to earn a Bill Gates scholarship to Trinity University, thanks in large part to help from CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates program she has worked with since 2008. Moore credits her CASA volunteer, Kristal Wortham, with helping her keep on track. While most foster children age out of the CASA program once they turn 18, Moore stayed on until she was 21 and emancipated from foster care. When did you enter foster care in the District?
I moved to the District of Columbia in 2005 with my biological mother. I never lived with her before, and it was a situation of neglect. I couldn’t stay with myself because she was never there. So I’ve been in foster care since September 2007. I emancipated in March of this year on my 21st birthday.
What did Kristal help you with?
I would talk to Kristal almost every day. She was someone I could always depend on. She taught me how to have my own voice and be my own self-advocate. She helped me make sure all my plans were intact, basically making sure that once I turned 21 on my birthday I would have a set plan for what to do going forward. I still keep in contact with her to date.
What do you go to school for?
I’ve been studying criminal justice, and I plan to become a police officer. Once I have five years of experience I plan to become a criminal detective. I anticipate graduating in May 2012.
And now you work for CASA in the District?
I want to be a volunteer, but I told them I would rather wait until I finish school so I can dedicate myself to another youth that’s in foster care. Right now I just make myself available to talk to foster kids.
Ben Giles
