Thursday, December 31, 1998
Another chapter in their lives
TEEN FINDS HER OWN HOME
Carrie Lucas, a 17-year-old Taft High School senior, likes living on her own. And she likes it better because she knows how to do it.
Ms. Lucas, featured in a May 28 Enquirer story about black-on-black peer pressure facing African-American teens, is a foster child successfully making the transition to independent living.
She is part of a program created and run by Lighthouse Youth Services and contracted by the Hamilton County Department of Human Services.
She lives in a rent-subsidized one-bedroom apartment in Price Hill. Utilities are paid. Ms. Lucas, who works 20 hours a week at Fifth/Third Bank, pays for her food, clothing and other expenses.
A human services caseworker has regular contact with Ms. Lucas to make sure she is going to work and school and paying her bills.
Before she was 15, Ms. Lucas lived with her mother, grandmother and an aunt. Her teen years arrived with this edict from her aunt, who was caring for Carrie and her three siblings: You stay home. You cook. You clean. You watch the little ones.
So, at age 15, Ms. Lucas went to court to become a ward of the state. She wanted a foster parent. She wanted to be left alone to go to school. She won and, while in court, discovered that she wanted to be a lawyer.
She was in a foster home in Mount Auburn until June. That's when she completed classes in the independent living program. The seven-hour classes were held each month and covered — among many topics — insurance, budgeting, credit and anger management.
“I think living where I am is another step up for me,” Ms. Lucas said. “I learned a lot from the program.”
Her goal is be a lawyer and run for elected office. She plans on attending Northern Kentucky University or the University of Cincinnati and majoring in political science before applying for law school.
Another chapter in their lives
JAIL HAUNTS INNOCENT MAN
QUADS THRIVE IN KINDERGARTEN
CRIME VICTIM GETS LETTER
LESBIAN TEEN'S HARD YEAR
MOTHER-DAUGHTER CLOSER
EX-RINGMASTER ON STAGE
TEEN FINDS HER OWN HOME
WINNING BASEBALL TEAM
BEANIE MADNESS SLOWS
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