Overcoming Adversity
After enduring a difficult pregnancy with little support, Brenda enrolled in our Infant Home Visitation program as a first time mother to her son, Isaiah. While Isaiah’s father served time in jail, Brenda started showing signs of Postpartum Depression. She also suffered from anxiety and overwhelming amounts of stress. Brenda’s anxiety would act up whenever she was not in direct contact with her child. Adding to her stress was the fact that her residence was not baby-friendly, as other family members smoked in the house. Fearing for her baby’s health, Brenda kept herself and Isaiah confined to her single room. With our Caseworker’s guidance and support, Brenda overcame her emotional struggles. Brenda also learned basic infant care, including appropriate feeding and bonding. She learned how breastfeeding could help alleviate her stress and strengthen emotional bonds with her son. After the father’s release from jail and the assistance of a mediator, Isaiah’s father and Brenda addressed the communication problems within their relationship. Our caseworker helped facilitate an environment where both parents could discuss their feelings with honesty and listen with respect to their significant other.
Ultimately they decided to stay together, first for their son, but also to explain themselves to the each other. The father told our Caseworker “Whatever you do, you’re really good at it, so keep it up. Thank you so much for what you’ve done for our family.” Brenda and Isaiah’s story is just another example of how proper parent education and the right support can create safer homes and stronger families
My Child is a Different Person
Theresa, a mother of two children, was a victim of domestic violence for six years. During her second pregnancy, her husband kicked her in her stomach, forced her to the floor, threw himself on top of her and attempted to choke her death. Luckily for Theresa, her mother-in-law came to her rescue, saved her life and the life of her unborn child.
Theresa gained the courage to leave her husband, filed a restraining order against him and obtained full legal and physical custody of both her children. The Social Services Agency referred Theresa to our Toddler Home Visitation Program. Our caseworker, Jessica, began working with Theresa in July 2011. During the second in-home visit, Jessica witnessed Theresa’s five year old daughter hit Theresa and call her stupid. When Theresa said “Please don’t hit mommy,” her daughter replied, “Why? Daddy used to do it all the time and you never said anything.” Theresa tried to hold back tears from her daughter, but she broke down, feeling responsible for allowing her child to live in an abusive home environment which contributed to her daughter’s violent behavior.
Our caseworker used the Positive Parenting Program curriculum to assist Theresa with disciplining her daughter and immediately referred Theresa to therapy for both herself and the children. Today, Theresa is incredibly thankful for our program and the support of her caseworker. Not only is Theresa a better parent, but her five-year old daughter is a different person. She is respectful of her mother, aware of appropriate behavior and is a happy, loving child. Theresa is thrilled with the dramatic changes that she has seen in her family and continues to participate in our Toddler Home Visitation Program.
Linda’s Struggle
When Linda’s 16-year-old son Johnny began skipping school, using drugs, and acting aggressively at home, a child abuse report was filed. Linda and her husband feared for the safety of their four younger children and eventually sent Johnny to live with his Uncle.
After being referred to the Child Abuse Prevention Center, Linda spoke openly with a caseworker about her struggle with depression. Apart from her son leaving home, Linda had a traumatic childhood in which she was born into incest and was sexually abused as a child. Our caseworker immediately connected her to our In-Home Mental Health program to help deal with her past. The program also helped improve Linda’s parenting skills and she quickly noticed changes in her children’s behavior. Additionally, our caseworker connected her with her daughter’s school district which empowered Linda, an immigrant with limited literacy and English skills, to advocate the necessary changes for her daughter’s education.
Linda is still currently in treatment for her depression, but has made significant progress. In addition, her son is back in school and living safely with his uncle. Her four young children are doing well and receiving healthy, nurturing discipline from Linda and her husband. Linda has repeatedly expressed her gratitude to her caseworker, stating that she is “an angel that came down from heaven and a shoulder for me to lean on.”
Seven Years in the Making
Alia and her husband were first time parents of a seven-month old born with Down Syndrome. They had been trying to have a baby for seven years before Alia became pregnant. Despite learning that the baby had Down Syndrome during her pregnancy, Alia was very excited to finally have a baby.
Alia was referred to the Child Abuse Prevention Center from a Bridges Network hospital and our caseworker was able to schedule the mother for a home visit the week after she gave birth. Alia expressed how happy she was to become a mom, but she also felt incredibly overwhelmed and depressed. She felt lonely because none of her family lived in California and her husband worked all day, leaving her with no support system. Alia admitted that her baby would cry, and she just did not know what to do to help her—so she would just cry along with her. Our caseworker offered to connect Alia with counseling, but she declined. Alia’s caseworker then offered her ideas on how to alleviate her depression. She also connected Alia to the Down Syndrome Association, who came out to see Alia and her husband a number of times to educate her about their daughter’s condition. Our caseworker connected Alia to the Regional Center, where the baby received SSI and physical therapy. In addition, her husband participated in several home visits, and now takes exceptional responsibility in making medical appointments for his daughter.
Alia and her husband are now very happy with their little girl and grew very bonded to her. The baby is doing very well developmentally, and she is a very happy baby. Alia and her husband do not plan to have any more children, because they want their full attention to be on their daughter and her needs. The family is very thankful for all the help that their caseworker provided them.
