Health and Wellness Success Stories

RootsCommunityClinic

Bisrat’sstorywasabigsuccessforourprogramthisyear.She wasreferredtotheRootsFamilyFirstProgrambyBlackInfant Healththreeyearsago.Whenshestartedourprogram,shewas ninemonthspregnant,goingtobeasinglemother,andliving withherrelatives.ThisyearBisratexpressedtoherFamilyFirst Navigatorthatsheneededhelpsecuringessentialsupplies, supportwithfindingaffordablehousing,andrentalassistance. Duetothepandemic,shelostherjobandwasunabletopayher rent.WiththemanyresourcesavailableatRootsCommunity Center,theNavigatorwasabletohelpherfindanaffordable studioapartmentandachildcarefacilitythroughasocialservice. Withthesupportfromourteam,shewasabletoworkafull-time job.NowBisratrentsatwobedroomapartmentforherselfand herson.Shestillutilizesourprogramandisoneofourmany successstoriesthatwehavehadhereatRoots.

“Aswecontinuetoprovideourfamilieswithhousing resources,childcarereferrals,andcommunity fundingfortheiressentialneeds,weexpecttosee moresuccessesintheupcomingyear.”–Staff

KidConnectionsNetwork

Amotherrequestedservicesforherson(the“Client”)ashehad beenexposedtodomesticviolenceforlongperiodsoftime.He initiallypresentedashavingbaddreamsinwhichmonstersare chasinghim,avoidingconversationsabouthisfather,having irritableandangryoutburstsandverbalaggression,beinghyper aware,andbeingeasilystartledandscared.

Atthebeginningoftreatment,Momwasunsureofhowtohelp hersonandoftentimeswasfeelinglostandconfused.She sharedthatshefelttriggeredeverytimehewouldscreamand cry,andthatitwaslikea“ringinginherear.”Shebegantoshare thatshewasverysimilartohersonwhenshewasyoung,and thathermotherhadnotknownhowtohandleher.

WewereabletohelpMomworkonidentifyingherowntriggers and“ghostsinthenursery”whilemaintaininghercalmness. Anotherthingwestartedtodowastobreakdownhistantrums. Clienthadtantrumsduringsessions,andwewereabletotime them,assesshistriggersandhisneeds,andmonitorhis cooldown.Wealsobegantohavearewardchartthatwouldaid MomintrackingClient’sbehaviorandtoprovideClientwith rewards.Momwasabletosticktothechartandevengetherson involvedwithputtingstickersonthecharthimself.

Insteadoffeelinghelplessoroverwhelmed,shealsobeganto think“WhatifIdosomethingdifferentnexttime?”or“Maybeit’s becauseItouchedhimandthatmadethetantrumlonger.”Once Momwasabletofocusonthechartandtrackhisprogress,she begantoappearmoreexcitedandconfidentaboutparentingher son.

TheClientwasresponsivetotheinterventionsandcontinued makingprogress!Wewereseeingweeksofthechartbeingfilled withstickers.Weevenhadtantrum-freedays,comparedtothe beginningoftreatment,whenwehadtantrumstwoorthreetimes aday.Momsharedhowhersonwasnowcapableofcertain behaviorsandnolongerneedstoputthemonthebehaviorchart.

KidConnectionsNetwork

TheclientwasreferredtoKCNbyhermother'scasemanagerat aconfidentialshelterforsurvivorsofdomesticviolence.The clienthadwitnesseddomesticviolencebetweenherparents.The clientwasveryattachedtohermotheranddidn’ttrustanyoneso theclient’smotherconstantlyworriedabouther.Theclientand hermotherengagedinthetherapeuticservicesprogramand engagedinweeklyplaytherapysessionsandcasemanagement services.Theyalsobenefitedfromvariousresourcelinkages, includingemergencygiftcards,COVIDtesting,andsupport groupsfortheclient’smother.Inaddition,theclient’smother participatedinsessionstolearnhowtosupporttheclientfeel moresecureandtrusting.Theclient’smotheralsocompletedthe TriplePprogram.

Atonepointintreatmentthemotherandclientnolongerhad accesstotransportationtomeetforsessionsattheoffice.They werealsohavingsomedifficultiesattheshelter,whichwere heavilyimpactingmother’semotionsandherabilitytobepresent forclient.Therapistrespondedbymeetingthemotherandclient ataparkafewblocksfromwheretheyresidedsotheydidnot havetoworryabouttransportation.Shealsoprovidedthemwith Ubergiftcardstohelpthemgettotheirotherimportant appointments.Thetherapistcontinuedtohelpthemothertobe emotionallyavailablefortheclientsothattheirrelationshipcould developandflourish.Therapistprovidedcasemanagement servicestohelpthemotherlocatenewhousingandarehappyto reportthatmotherandclienthavemovedintoanewhomewhere theyareveryhappy!Theclientisfeelingmoreconfidentand securenowandiswillingtoplayindependentlyandfeelssafe enoughtoleavehermother’ssideandhavevisitswithherfather.

Throughouttreatment,theclientbecamemorevisiblyhappy, active,andtalkative.Now,sheismoreopenwiththetherapist andisusuallyhappytoseeher.Shenolongerhasdifficulty separatingfromhermother,somotherisfinallyabletousethe bathroominpeaceormakedinnerwithoutclientwantingtobeon herhip!

“[Iam]beyondgratefulforyou,”saidtheclient’smother.“We havebenefitedbothemotionallyandmaterialistically(diapers andgiftcards).Ilearnedalotofthingsfromyouformyself,not justfor[theclient].Ifeeldifferentlyandabletodothings differentlyfor[theclient]becauseofyou.”

KidConnectionsNetwork

Thechildclientwasreferredbyhismotherduetoconcernswith aggressivebehaviorsathomeandschool,andtraumahistory. Theclient,brother,andmotherfledtotheUnitedStatesfearing fortheirlivesandseekingasylum.Thefamilyhadbeenvictimsof cartelviolenceintheirhometown,wherethechildrenwitnessed theexecutionoftheirmother’sboyfriendandwatchedastheir motherwasthreatenedatgunpoint.Thefamilyfled,leaving everythingbehind.Themotherreportedherchildhasnightmares atnight,doesnotgetalongwithotherkidsandwashaving troubleinschoolfightingwithotherkids.

Thechildclientisengagingintherapeuticservicestoprocess pasteventsoftrauma.Therapeuticservicesarehelpingincrease hisawarenessandcapacitytoregulatehisemotionsduring stressfulsituations,inordertoincreasehishealthyandpositive interactionswithotherfamilymembers.Theclient’ssiblingisina 6+program.Intensivecasemanagement/carecoordinationhas beenfacilitatedbetweenaFirst5therapistandFSPprovidersto collaborateinsupportingthefamily.

Usingflexandemergencyfunds,theFIRST5andFSPYouth teamshavebeenabletoassistwithgroceries,rent,andother necessities,ensuringhousingstabilityandhealthyfoodforthe family.Theprogramteamsareworkingtolinkthefamilytoany andallcommunityresourcesavailableforadditionalassistance andsupport,includingregularaccesstogroceries.

Throughhisparticipationinservices,theclientisreceiving psychiatricserviceandiscurrentlytakingmedication.Medication hashelpedtheclientfeelbetter,saying“Idon’thavenightmares anymore.Ifeelgood,Iamnotjumpinganymore.I’mjustsitting downandsleeping”.Theclientisopenduringhissessionsand hisgreatcommunicationskillisagreatfunctionalstrengththat contributestoclientbeingabletoprocesshispasttrauma.

“Ifeelcalmer,Idon’tfeelsodesperate.Inthepast,Iusedtocry becauseIwasfeelingsostressed.Myoldersonwilltellme,‘The providersaregood.Youdon’tneedtocryanymoremami, becausetheyaregoodandtheywillhelpus.”

HealthierKidsFoundationScreenings

ApreschoolertookpartinaHearingFirstandVisionFirst screening.Hewasfoundtohaveahearingissueinbothears, afterreceivingasecondscreening.AHealthierKids Foundation’sVietnamese-speakingcasemanagerfollowedup withthechild’smotherandexplainedthehearingresults.The CaseManagerwasabletoassistthemotherinmakingthe necessarydoctors’appointments.Afterawaxtreatmentwas completed,theaudiologistalsonoticedthatthechildcouldhear thetonesduringthetonalhearingtest,buthewasslowtoreact. ThisresultedinareferraltoKidConnection.Oncein KidConnection,thechildwasdiagnosedwithautism.Thechild andhismotherarenowactivelyinvolvedwithKidConnectionand othertherapygroups.Thegroupsareassistinginthechild’s socialdevelopment,andthemotherhasnoticedthetremendous growthinherson.

HealthierKidsFoundationHearingFirstprogramallowedthechild toreceiveinterventionservicesatanearlyage.Thescreening notonlyflaggedapossiblephysicalcondition,butitledthefamily intothehealthcaresystemandlinkedthemtoaPrimaryCare Physician,Specialists,andinterventionservices.

NeonatalIntensiveCareUnit(NICU)

The“Smith’s”firstchildwasadmittedintotheNICUat24weeks gestation.Thoughthisfamilywasverydistressedabouttheir sickbaby,bothparents/caregiversmadeanefforttobeinvolved inthescrapbookingandeducationalclassesofferedbythe FIRST5supportspecialist.TheSmithswereappreciativeof theseclasses,andwereabletolearnhowtobestcarefortheir prematurebaby.Often,justsittingandtalkingwiththeFamily SupportSpecialistputmomateasebecauseshewasabletoask questionsabouttheconditionofherbaby.Momkepttrackofall ofbaby’smilestonesintheMarchofDimesbabybookprovided toeachfamilyatthetimeofadmission.TheFamilySupport Specialistmadeapersonalizedbagformomandaonesiefor baby.Momstartedcryingwhenshereceivedthegift,butthey werehappytears,andshewasverythankful.

“ThespecialsupportwereceivedintheNICU helpedusmakeitthroughthisverystressfultime intheNICU.Notsurehowwewouldhavegotten throughitwithoutthehelpoftheFamilySupport Specialistwhoknowswhatit’sliketohaveareally sickbaby.”

“IreallyappreciatedalltheworkthatHKFmembersdo formychildandotherkids.Inmyopinion,childrenare thefoundationsandthefutureofthesociety.Justlike howahouseneedstohaveasteadyfoundation, childrenneedtobehealthyinordertocontributetheir talentstothecommunity,societyandcountry.This programhashelpedmeinpayingmoreattentiontomy children,valuehealthandpreventivecaremore.Iam currentlyattendingaprogrameveryMondayfor6 monthsthatwasreferredbymyspecialist.Ilearneda lothowtobetterraiseandtakingcareofmychildren. Mysonisalsojoiningaprogramthatisdedicatedfor specialkidstohelpthemdobetteratschool.Thankyou againforallthatyouareandallyoudo.”