Growing Stronger Together - Catholic Social Services of Oakland ...

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Family Counseling Services … Helping People Overcome Barriers to Achieving Emotional and Economic Independence. Services offered Who we help What we provide Mike* was a very sad 10-year-old when he came to Family Counseling. He often cried, had Counseling • Children Help in dealing with the transitions • Adolescents in life that can be so difficult, nightmares and did not like to be left alone. • Adults including: His sorrow came from losing his beloved grandma, • Older adults • Alcohol and substance abuse who died when Mike was 6. His dad said: “He just • Families • Anger management • Couples • Anxiety and stress never seemed to get over her death. They were best • Changes due to health and aging buds since he was little. She used to babysit for him, • Child and teen behavior issues and even when she got really sick with cancer, he would • Depression • Grief and loss stay near her and just hold her hand. Her death was • Job loss really hard on him.” • Marriage and relationship issues Afraid that others he loved might die too, he often • Parenting/family conflict • Trauma checked on how they were feeling. Mike’s counselor not only understood how children react to the death of a loved one, but how traumatic those deaths can be. She provided a safe place where he could talk about his grandma and how hard it was for him to see her die. As part of the process, the counselor helped Mike create a memory box where he could keep all the good mementos he had of her. With time, Mike’s nightmares faded away and he was able to talk about his grandma without crying. He was finally able to share with others the happiness she gave him. Mike joyfully said: “I made a new friend last week. I told him all about my grandma and showed him my grandma box. He really wishes he could have met her.” Family Education & Support Services … Teaching Families Skills that Strengthen Communication and Relationships, Because Strong Families Protect Children and Teach Them Self Sufficiency. The Smiths* were a family in crisis. These new parents didn’t know what to expect of or how to react to their 2-yearold daughter. Adding to the stress was the father’s recent unemployment. Child Protective Services referred the family to our Family Education and Support Services’ Life Skills Program. In June 2011, we assessed the family and found them to be in crisis regarding both parenting skills and employment retention skills. Six months of participating in our Parent Coaching and Conflict Resolution Skills training has resulted in a much brighter picture for this young family. The father has found gainful employment, allowing him to provide appropriate housing, transportation and food for his wife and daughter. Both parents agree that the parent coaching services greatly increased their understanding of child development. The program also taught them how to utilize parenting strategies, including setting consistent limits and expectations, as well as demonstrating positive and negative consequences of behaviors. They not only realize the importance of playing with their daughter, reading to her and praising her, but they look forward to it. As a result of participating in our Life Skills Program, the Smiths are now a close, warm, self-sufficient family. *All names have been changed to ensure confidentiality. 4 u CSSOC 2010–2011 Annual Report Services offered Who we help What we provide Child and family literacy Parenting education Self-sufficiency/ life skills Oakland County families referred to us by other agencies Help to improve parents’ and children’s literacy skills to ensure the child’s success in school; services available at school or home Training to improve parenting and financial management skills Life skills tools that help adults and adolescents live successful lives
St. Francis Family Center (Child Welfare Services) … Protecting Children by Providing Services to Ensure They Are in Stable, Nurturing Homes. After raising eight children to successful adulthood, most parents would utter a sigh of relief and slip into the comfortable roles of grandparent and retiree. Not true of Shirley and Robert Selby. At ages 63 and 71, respectively, they were ready to begin again by adopting, with the help of SFFC, a new family of five children ranging in age from 2 to 14. When the Selbys’ great nieces and nephews Malik, Celicia, Tionna, Lavida and Anthony entered foster care, Mr. and Mrs. Selby knew they needed to take care of these wonderful children. They’d had a close relationship with the children and their mother before she died. The Selbys did not want to see the children separated after suffering the loss of their mother. Family love and support is the cornerstone of the Selbys’ existence. They speak with each of their adult children daily and visit with them weekly. Their biological children believe their mother “was put on this earth to raise children.” In addition to raising their own family, over the years the Selbys have opened their hearts and home to other family members and friends in need. Prepared and unfazed by the challenge of raising five young children, Mr. and Mrs. Selby know they have the love, compassion and experience needed to embrace this new family and are committed to each of them forever. Services offered Who we help What we provide Foster care Families and children Temporary placement for (newborn to 18) in the children removed from tri-county area their legal families due to abuse and neglect Independent Youths (16 to 21) in the Services to prepare youth in living foster care system foster care to successfully transition to adulthood and independent living Adoption Children (newborn to Permanent families for services 18) whose parents’ rights were terminated children with special needs such as having siblings, because of abuse and being a little older, a neglect minority or a child with medical problems; or being a child who is voluntarily relinquished by the parents Home studies People seeking Home studies and international and materials, court assistance independent adoptions and adoption supervision Pregnancy Birth parents from Counseling for parents counseling various counties who are exploring options for their unborn child struggling to make the best decision CSSOC 2010–2011 Annual Report u 5
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