Former San Diego Foster Child Becomes Advocate For Change

How does a person rise above a terrible childhood to live a successful life?

Sometimes, all it takes is one caring individual to make the difference.

May is National Foster Care Awareness month, focusing on the need for those people who can make a difference in life of a foster child, from social workers to community organizations in San Diego and around the country.

According to health officials, there are 3,195 children in out-of-home foster care placement in San Diego County. This figure includes children at Polinsky Children's Center and San Pasqual Academy.

Former foster youth Georgette Todd, who spent much of her childhood in foster care in San Diego and Imperial counties, wrote a searing memoir titled, "Foster Girl" about her childhood filled with violence, abuse and neglect.

"It was really cathartic for me because I turned something ugly into something beautiful," Todd told KPBS Midday Edition on Monday. "I turned it into art."

Todd said she was honest in her writing because she felt the story of foster care had never been told in that way.

"There are very few foster care memoirs out there," said Todd who was abused by her step father. "I really wanted to give that raw perspective and try to relive on the page what happened to me."

Todd will hold a book signing at 1 p.m. on May 23 at Barnes & Noble in Mission Valley at 7610 Hazard Center Drive.

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