Jerry Davich

Metro columnist

Marissa grew up in the state’s foster care system. She eventually aged out of it.

“I truly don’t have anything nice to say about the system, so I’ll just say that it’s severely flawed,” she said.

When she was in eighth grade, the Indiana Department of Child Services searched for a placement for her in the Region’s foster care community. At the time, a Valparaiso woman named Morgan Bradley was babysitting her at the home of Marissa’s father.

DCS was aware that Bradley had already been an integral part of the girl’s life. The agency chose to formally place Marissa in Bradley’s care. Neither of them knew what this connection would lead to a few years later.

“My time dealing with the system was not good. With Morgan, my life had changed. She helped me way mor

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