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Molly's dad was born
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Period: to
San Francisco Castro Street Fair (Annual, Early October):
Established in 1974 by Harvey Milk, this event in the Castro District is a celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, with live performances and community engagement -
Pre-Birth Years
1980s-1990s: Molly’s parents grew up during a time when exposure to domestic violence, poverty, and systemic racism were common in many Afro-Native American communities. The lingering effects of intergenerational trauma from historical events such as the displacement of Indigenous communities and the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement may have influenced her parents' mental health and parenting abilities. -
Pre-Birth Years
Molly's mom was part of the foster system -
Molly's mom was born
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Molly's Mother Enters Foster Care
PARENTAL NEGLECT: Molly’s mother goes into foster care and remains in “the system” for 7 years where she struggles mentally and physically -
Mother is adopted by Molly’s adoptive grandfather
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Pre-Birth Years
Molly's mom incarcerated -
Pre-Birth Years
Molly's mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer -
HOUSEHOLD MENTAL ILLNESS: Pre-Birth
Molly's mom in and out of emergency psychiatric services -
Molly's sister was born
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Period: to
ADDICTION: Persistent Household Substance Abuse
Molly’s mother is in and out of AA treatment for alcohol addiction and substance abuse -
Period: to
PHYSICAL NEGLECT: Chronic Employment Instability of Mother"
Molly's mother struggles to maintain steady employment, rarely holding a job for more than three months. -
San Francisco Same-Sex Marriage Licenses
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom authorized the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples, marking a key moment in the fight for marriage equality. -
Molly's birth (age 0)
Molly was born premature with lungs not fully developed -
Hurricane Katrina
The disaster exposed systemic inequities in emergency response and recovery resources -
Molly Turns 1
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Molly Turns 2
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Witnesses mother assault father
Molly and sister witness mother hitting their father in the face with a fireplace stoker -
Great Recession and Rise in Child Poverty
The financial crisis led to increased child poverty and economic instability for families, especially those already disadvantaged. Budget cuts affected public services, schools, and social programs, impacting the safety net for youth in low-income families. -
INTIMATE PARTER VIOLENCE: Molly's mother assaults paternal aunt
Mother assaults Molly’s paternal aunt; both Molly and her sister witness it -
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION - Mother is incarcerated for assaulting Molly's father
Molly and her sister were both home and witnessed the assault. -
Period: to
Mother is incarcerated (for assaulting Molly's father)
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Period: to
PHYSICAL ABUSE: Molly sent to live with paternal aunt
Molly and her sister go to live with their paternal aunt (while their mother is in jail) who abuses and neglects them -
Molly Turns 3
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Molly, her mother, and her sister, go to live with maternal grandfather
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U.S. Passage of the Fostering Connections Act
This law aimed to improve the welfare of children in foster care. Its provisions for extended foster care and transitional supports particularly impacted youth aging out of the foster system, seeking to reduce the challenges they face upon reaching adulthood. -
Period: to
Barack Obama's Presidency
The election of the first Black president was a historic milestone and brought heightened national conversations about race, identity, and equity. -
Period: to
ONGOING TRAUMA, NEGLECT, ABANDONMENT, ABUSE
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Molly Turns 4
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California Supreme Court Overturns Same-Sex Marriage Ban
The California Supreme Court ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, further advancing LGBTQ+ rights -
Molly Turns 5
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Passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Known as “Obamacare,” the ACA aimed to expand health insurance coverage, especially for low-income individuals and families. -
Period: to
RACIAL: Molly Experiences Ongoing Racial Discrimination
As a Black, Native American youth, Molly reports that she battled with ongoing racial discrimination at school and in her neighborhood. -
Period: to
Chronic Maternal Abuse and Neglect
Molly's mother frequently throws objects at her, yells, abandons her for days, and experiences mental breakdowns. -
Molly turns 6
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Molly Turns 7
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Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
DACA was introduced to protect undocumented youth. It provided crucial support for disadvantaged immigrant youth. -
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION: Molly's mother breaks down wall during psychiatric break
Molly's mother takes a jackhammer to a wall, bullying breaking it down, during a psychiatric meltdown -
Period: to
EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Paternal Verbal Degradation and Negative Prognosis
Molly’s father repeatedly tells her and her care team that she is "hopeless" and likely to end up homeless or in jail. -
Molly turns 8
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Molly Turns 9
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Molly Turns 10
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Period: to
Academic Struggles and Behavioral Conflicts in School
Molly faces academic challenges, engages in fights with peers, and is defiant toward school administration. -
Molly Turns 11
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Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples had the constitutional right to marry, making it a landmark victory for LGBTQ+ rights nationwide -
o In 2016, the Bay Area saw a peak in immigration, contributing to the region's diversity
In 2016, the Bay Area saw a peak in immigration, contributing to the region's diversity. This trend slowed during the Trump administration and the pandemic, but by 2022, immigration numbers began to rise again as restrictions were lifted -
Creation of SOMA Pilipinas
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors established SOMA Pilipinas, a cultural heritage district, to protect and celebrate the Filipinx community in the South of Market area. This effort aimed to combat cultural and physical displacement due to gentrification -
Period: to
Trump Administration Immigration Policies
During this period, federal immigration policies were significantly tightened, leading to a reduction in immigration to the Bay Area. This period also saw increased xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment nationwide -
Period: to
Increasing Visibility of Transgender Rights
During this period, legal battles and policies around transgender rights—such as bathroom access and military service—were frequently in the spotlight. -
Molly turns 12
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Period: to
Persistant aggressive behaviors toward family
i.e. hitting sister, “taking hostage of grandfather in the garage” and uncontrollable screaming at mother -
Period: to
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION: Family Financial Exploitation and Theft
Molly reports her mother, grandfather, and sister steal welfare checks and other physical belongings of hers -
Molly turns 13
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2018 Report on Racial Segregation Persists in Bay Area
Despite the Bay Area’s diversity, racial segregation persists, both between and within municipalities, particularly in housing and education.
https://belonging.berkeley.edu/racial-segregation-san-francisco-bay-area-part-1 -
Temporary Relocation to Father's Care Due to Maternal Inability to Support Mental Health
Molly lives with her father for a year due to her mother’s inability to support her mental health needs; her father is absent and neglectful throughout. -
LGTBQ: Molly Comes Out - Experiences Transphobia
Molly comes out as transgender to her family; father and grandfather exhibit denial and rejection -
Period: to
EMOTIONAL NEGLECT: Parental Dismissal of Educational Importance
Molly’s mother and father declare Molly doesn’t need an education. -
Molly turns 14
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Period: to
Molly drops out of high school
Molly drops out of high school after receiving almost zero school credits. -
Period: to
Molly has no consistent schooling
Due to acute mental health needs, lack of consistent academic instruction (after she drops out of school), and failure of Molly to participate Molly fails to accrue an official academic credit -
Molly turns 15
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Covid-19 Pandemic
The pandemic affected everyone but had disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities. For those in foster care or without stable support networks, the pandemic’s strain on mental health resources and social services may have compounded existing challenges. -
George Floyd's Death & Protests
Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests marked a major turning point in the national conversation on systemic racism and policing. The movement amplified the voices of Black and Native activists, focusing on racial equity and justice. -
LGBTQ: Molly's Incessantly Tease & Marginalized by Peers
Due to Molly's request to go by a male pronoun and transition to male, she experiences rejection and social alienation at school and by peers -
Molly turns 16
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Bay Area Public Defenders' Protest for Black Lives Matter
As part of a nationwide day of solidarity, public defenders across the Bay Area held protests supporting Black Lives Matter following the murder of George Floyd -
Martinez Black Lives Matter Rally
In response to a hate crime where a couple painted over a Black Lives Matter mural in Martinez, between 1,500 and 2,000 people gathered for a peaceful protest. -
Black Trans Lives Matter Mural at Compton's Cafeteria
As part of the commemoration of the 54th anniversary of the Compton's Cafeteria riots, a "Black Trans Lives Matter" mural was painted in San Francisco's Tenderloin District. The event highlighted the intersection of racial and LGBTQ+ struggles -
Family fails to engage in family preservation efforts
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Period: to
HOUSEHOLD MENTAL ILLNESS: Mom goes missing
Social workers, school district reps, and CASA try to locate the mom who “went missing,” threw out her phone, and refused to sign paperwork to approve Molly’s admittance to of state psychiatric facility -
Period: to
EMOTIONAL NEGLECT: Molly in behavioral health hospital; receives no visits from any family or friend.
Molly's CASA was her only visitor (once a week) while she was in the behavioral health hospital. -
Molly turns 17
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Child & Family Services Files Petition for removal of Molly from her home
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PARENTAL NEGLECT: Petition filed with the court
Petition filed on behalf of Molly (age 16) regarding general neglect and caretaker absence/incapacity by both parents -
Molly's mom calls police on Molly for verbal & physical abuse of family members. .
molly’s mom reports having called the police on multiple occasions due to Molly’s aggressive behavior, including yelling at her mother, physically hitting her sister, and “taking hostage” of her grandfather in the garage. -
NEGLECT: CPS Gets Involved
It's determined that the mother is unable to care for her child due to her own mental health needs and breakdowns. -
CANS Assessment Reveals Parental Unfitness
Clinician completes the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) for Molly unveiling that her parents are unfit physically and mentally to care for her -
EMOTIONAL NEGLECT: Mother's Mother Rated on Parenting Scale
Received elevated levels of "Laxness", "Over-reactivity", and "Hostility" indicating need for intervention. -
Clinician administers "Parenting Scale" on Molly's mom
Clinician administers “Parenting Scale to measure the presence of dysfunctional discipline styles in parents. Molly’s mom obtained elevated scores in on all three scales including Laxness, Over-reactivity, and Hostility. -
HOUSEHOLD MENTAL ILLNESS: Mother Rated in DASS scale
Clinician adminisers Despression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales to Molly's mom. She was rated having mild level of depression and anxiety and moderate level of stress -
Agency arranges supervised visitation with Molly for mother, father, and sister
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Jurisdiction/Disposition Hearing
*Molly is declared a dependent of the court in out-of-home placement
*Family is offered reunification services -
Admitted to an out-of-state psychiatric and educational facility
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Molly’s mother's Therapeutic visitation service is deemed inappropriate
Molly’s mother's Therapeutic visitation service is deemed inappropriate because Molly’s mom verbalized a lack of readiness to participate in visits with the youth. -
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Mother reveals her history of domestic violence
The mother reveals to the clinician her history of domestic violence; both as a victim and perpetrator. -
Molly assigned CASA
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Placed in short-term rehabilitation placement (STRTP)
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Placed on 5150 Hold in psychiatric emergency services (PES) at country hospital
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Discharged from hospital and released back to STRTP
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2 hours after discharge to STRTP, released back to hospital on 5150 hold
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For the 6 months in behavioral health hospital, the only visitor Molly received was the CASA once a week.
From August, 2021-January, 2022 – Molly was in behavioral health hospital. Zero visits from any family member or friend. Only the CASA visited while in the hospital. -
Discharged a second time back to same STRTP
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Engages in head banging at STRTP
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Addmitted back to PES at county hospital
*To assess possible head injury for head banging
*To get stabilized -
Temporarily conserved; admitted to Behavioral Health Hospital out of county
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Molly undergoes psychiatric evaluation
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Undergoes second psychiatric evaluation (same doctor)
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Court mandates child, family, and team meetings
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Mother undergoes mental health assessment
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EMOTIONAL & PHYSICAL NEGLECT: Family fails to engage in family preservation efforts
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Molly discharged from behavioral health hospital (after 6 months)
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Molly turns 18
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Court hearing to approve out-of-state placement in a psychiatric and educational facility
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Court hearing to to make CASA education rights holder
Court hearing to get parents to hand over education rights to CASA -
Received written notification off mandated removal from out-of-state placement
Molly was removed from out-of-state placement for non-compliance, lack of engagement, and unsafe, inappropriate behavior -
Indigenous Peoples Day on Alcatraz Island
Thousands gathered to commemorate Indigenous Peoples Day, which replaced Columbus Day for many. The annual event, which began more than 45 years ago, included sunrise prayers, traditional dances, and speeches celebrating Indigenous resilience and resistance -
Molly moves back into maternal gradfather's house
Molly moves back into her grandfather’s house (the home from which she was removed by the court) with her mom, grandpa, and sister. -
Black History Month Performances and Celebrations
Numerous events took place in February 2023 celebrating Black culture, including performances like “I, Too, Sing America” at the Brava Theater in San Francisco and immersive art installations in Oakland as part of the Sankofa Project -
Period: to
Molly has major meltdown and dysregulation episodes
Molly shows major signs of dysregulation; and has debilitating meltdowns to CASA due to unfit living conditions and emotional abuse from family -
Period: to
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION: Sister vandalizes Molly's room and belongings
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Physical Neglect: Mother and Grandfather Refuse to Provide Suitable Living Space for Molly
Molly has no other place to live when terminated from rehabilitation living facility forcing her to return to unwelcoming, unsafe home -
Molly is released from out-of-state psychiatric, educational placement
She remained a court-dependent and was returned to the same home she was removed from due to a lack of alternative placements. -
She became a non-minor dependent of the court
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Molly turns 19
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Banko Brown Protests
Demonstrators gathered in San Francisco after the fatal shooting of Banko Brown, a Black transgender man. -
EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Molly reveals verbal abuse by grandfather, sister, & mom
Molly shares stories of verbal abuse from grandfather and sister with her social worker -
PHYSICAL NEGLECT: Molly reveals video of unfit living conditions
Molly shares a video with social worker and CASA documenting unfit and unsafe living conditions at her grandfather’s house -
Molly enters motel; deemed at risk of homelessness
CASA drops Molly at a motel to live indefinitely until the case manager and social worker can find housing. She is officially deemed at risk of homelessness -
CASA (of 3 years) resigns from case
CASA of 3 years resigns from the case because of verbal abuse and emotional assaults from Molly -
Molly's father attends court hearing; exhibits unfit parenting
Molly’s father, whom she hadn’t seen in two years, attended a court hearing and made derogatory comments about her weight. When advocates tried to discuss Molly’s need for education and housing to avoid homelessness, he dismissed it, saying she would end up on the streets regardless. He dismissed Molly as “hopeless”.