The simplest answers have the greatest effect.
When Makayla found out she was pregnant with her 2nd child at age17, she felt scared, worried and most of all, isolated. Without the support of her family, she turned to the Park Heights Family Support Center.
She took classes in order to get her G.E.D.. She also studied nutrition so that she could make certain she had a healthy pregnancy. After a year of classes at the center, she earned her G.E.D. and enrolled at Baltimore City Community College.
Makayla has maintained a 3.2 G.P.A. since her attendance at BCCC. She is now looking into the possibility of attending The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in the fall. She went on a field trip to the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing that was arranged by the Park Heights Family Support Center. This trip allowed Makayla to tour the school, and they provided her with information as to how to enroll into the program.
Today, Makayla has her own apartment with her children who are flourishing. She enjoys coming back to the center to give updates on her progress. With the help of tutoring, mentoring and guidance from the Park Heights Family Support Center, Makayla now understands how sometimes the simplest answers can have the greatest effect.
* Please note that all of the names in these stories have been changed to preserve confidentially. To further protect the privacy of these individuals, real photos have not been used.
Help is closer than you think.
At Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland, we believe that help is closer than you think, help with basic needs that can mean so much. Like when Margaret, a retired Baltimore City school teacher, came to us when her health started to decline.
Margaret was feeling isolated and depressed after she learned she had both Diabetes and a heart condition. She needed help with paying her large medical bills and other debts.
Margaret started working with Family and Children’s Elderly Services, and received help with paying down her debts and got financial support to buy a new leg prosthesis.
She was able to get financial assistance through The Donovan Fund that helped her get an air conditioner when her breathing started to worsen. Through the Adopt-a-Senior Program at Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland, she also received funds that helped her with food and medication. All of these donations helped Margaret to become more independent and more financially secure.
Eventually, Margaret’s health improved, and she was referred to another FCS program, Senior Community Service Employment, where she was able to enjoy again the pride of doing what she loved. She now works with children as a teacher’s aide. She felt that FCS’ program not only helped her in a time of despair, but it also enabled her to give back to the community by sharing her knowledge and experience.
* Please note that all of the names in these stories have been changed to preserve confidentially. To further protect the privacy of these individuals, real photos have not been used.
Together we can rebuild lives.
At four years old, a little girl named “Brooke” came to FCS as a victim of child sexual abuse. Her mother was a prostitute, and Brooke often witnessed her mother engaging in sexual activities with various customers in cars and other places. Since she was a toddler, her mom also had offered Brooke as a sexual partner to these men. Instead of learning her ABCs, she was learning to muffle her cries and hide her agonizing physical and emotional pain.
When Brooke first started treatment in FCS’ child abuse treatment program, she immediately underwent intensive counseling and support to help her regain her self-worth and confidence. Through individual counseling, she has learned basic personal safety rules so the likelihood of being abused again in the future is significantly reduced.
Now Brooke is six years old and is safely in the care of family members. With two years of counseling from Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland, Brooke is seeing the world in a different light. With on-going treatment and support, she is developing self-assurance and faith in people around her. Brooke has demonstrated to herself and to us how together, we can rebuild hope and rebuild lives.
* Please note that all of the names in these stories have been changed to preserve confidentially. To further protect the privacy of these individuals, real photos have not been used.
