Since she could remember, Semi’s parents were addicted to drugs and alcohol. The pressure of being the sole caregiver for her four younger siblings was overwhelming. Relief finally came once Child Protective Services intervened and placed Semi and her siblings in one of ACH’s residential homes.

The adjustment was difficult, and eventually all of the children returned to their parents, except for Semi. That decision alienated her from her family, but it also opened the world to her.

At ACH, Semi found a new family — loving caregivers who offered her a sense of belonging and emotional support. The life skills they taught her launched Semi onto a path of success, like graduating from college and joining the United States Navy. As years passed, she stayed in touch with the caregivers who felt like parents. That relationship revealed to her that a person didn’t have to be related to you by blood to love you by bond. In the end, Semi was embraced into a new family’s legacy.