Mark Hallenbeck

The author chronicles the development of a troubled child who was removed at the age of 8 from abusive parents. A long history of serious problems-anger, school difficulties, and delinquent behavior-ensued. Even in the face of long-term troubles, the youth had advocates who provided support over a period of several years. His problems did continue into adulthood as his early attempts at independence led to new crises. In time, however, he was able to learn important lessons from these initial failures and achieve success. This account suggests that continuity of support-coupled with the passage of time-can enable many youth with serious challenges to develop resilience and responsible independence. Such a perspective is crucial in an era when schools and courts are often prone to giving up on youth who repeatedly resist attempts at discipline or rehabilitation.