Elizabeth’s Story

 
Before Elizabeth came to the Center for Children and Families, she was barely able to keep going financially and emotionally. Her husband had been killed in a car accident several months before, and her two young sons, ages six and three, had been taken into DHS custody and put into foster care after repeatedly running away from home. Elizabeth came to CCFI’s Parents Assistance program for parenting help to regain custody of her sons, but needed much more.

 

Our staff member, Cherie, listened as Elizabeth revealed that her husband had been violent towards her and her children until he passed away. Elizabeth was in a deep depression, and the family was barely making ends meet by living primarily on the social security death benefits the children were receiving.

 

Elizabeth and her children began attending groups with the Parents Assistance program, and within six months their lives were headed in a positive direction with new hope. Elizabeth found support from caring staff and fellow group members in her parenting classes. She started seeking mental health services for her depression so that she could be the best parent she could for her children.

 

 

Her two boys attended children’s therapeutic play groups while Elizabeth was in parenting classes. For the first several weeks of play groups, her oldest son, Jon, would attempt to run away. CCFI staff helped Elizabeth to come up with a safety plan for what she should do if Jon tried to run away. CCFI staff recommended to Elizabeth that she seek mental services for Jon as well. He was diagnosed and began treatment for bipolar disorder.

 

Through the support of caring professionals Elizabeth was able to manage her depression in a way that allowed her to take a part time job in order to help provide for her family. Because of the support and education she received at CCFI, Elizabeth was able to bring her family back together, and trade despair for hope.

 

 

(Note: details such as the name, age, race, or gender may have been changed to protect client privacy. All pictures used by CCFI are only representations of clients.)