Opinion ID: 2455274
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Christina's Childhood (October 1989 To October 2007)

Text: Appellant Christina J., [1] was born in Fairbanks and raised in Fort Yukon. OCS [2] removed Christina from her parents' custody in 2001, when she was 11 or 12 years old. Prior to that time, Christina was exposed to alcohol abuse and domestic violence in her parents' home; at one point, her mother attempted suicide. Shortly before she was removed by OCS, Christina's brother committed suicide in the home. These events were a cause of emotional trauma and ongoing grief in Christina's later life. While in OCS custody, Christina initially lived in a foster home in Eielson; she subsequently spent five months at the Residential Diagnostic Treatment Center (RDT), where she was treated for depression and grief, and 30 days at the Presbyterian Hospitality House. Christina began drinking at age 12. She was convicted of minor consuming alcohol offenses at least twice before she turned 14. Another minor consuming charge immediately after Christina's 14th birthday was dismissed for jurisdictional reasons. Christina spent time in substance abuse treatment at the Adolescent Residential Center for Help (ARCH) (five months) and the McLaughlin Youth Center (approximately two years). Although she completed substance abuse treatment at both facilities, Christina testified that she felt she was placed at McLaughlin because OCS didn't know what to do with [her], because [she] was leaving foster homes where [she] didn't feel comfortable. Christina left McLaughlin at age 17; she stayed briefly at the Fairbanks Youth Facility and at a foster home, but subsequently left. She did not ask OCS for a different placement because she didn't want to listen to all their excuses. Christina remained in OCS custody until she turned 18 in 2008. OCS assigned Christina an OCS employee to assist in her transition out of custody, but Christina does not appear to have substantially worked with the employee; Christina testified to being tired of working with OCS at the time.