Alayiah is a determined young woman who has spent most of her life in foster care. She was separated from her siblings and parents when she was just 12 years old and no longer has a relationship with them. Essentially, she is on her own. She chose to remain in care to complete her education and to benefit from the financial assistance our state offers for housing. Alayiah is learning independent living skills through several specialized programs. She is a strong-willed hard worker who makes a diligent effort to take care of her own needs. Art is her favorite pastime and serves as her therapy. Recently, she has taken great care to create a beautiful dream catcher to hang over her baby's crib. Her mantra for her baby's sleeping area is, "Bad dreams, bad dreams, go away. Good dreams, good dreams, here to stay."