Changing Lives: Baby Leah

“Every time I look at my baby, I want to cry. I love her so much, but seeing her reminds me of my painful past.” These were the very honest words Sarah confided to her FBB home visitor during one of her first home visits. Having recently fled a violent and abusive relationship,Sarah felt frightened, isolated and lonely. She turned to FBB for support in raising her newborn daughter, Leah. Because of the trauma in her past, Sarah had a difficult time holding her baby close, often looking away as her daughter’s small face looked up at her.

With continued parenting support and home visits, Sarah learned to understand what her baby needed from her, to hold and touch and watch her daughter grow with a sense of closeness and pride. She began working with a mental health therapist and has made progress toward addressing the trauma of her past. On a recent home visit, Sarah proudly announced that Leah was beginning to walk. Taking a few wobbly steps, Leah looked to Sarah for reassurance and excitedly collapsed into her mother’s waiting arms. Holding Leah close, Sarah said she finally felt safe and confident as a woman and a mother.

In her arms was the one thing keeping her off drugs

Overwhelmed and exhausted, Julie walked through FBB’s doors seeking a fresh start. In her arms she held her sleeping son, Will, four months old and the one thing in her life that was keeping her off drugs. Before Will, Julie struggled for years addicted to methamphetamine and having lost everything she was proud of: friends, employment, housing, school and the life she had once known. Julie was raised in a supportive home but made poor decisions as a teenager and was facing a felony record and deepening depression.

Shortly after Will’s birth, Julie reached out in despair. She was determined that Will would have a better life than she had, and Julie sought help to make that happen. She enrolled in the Fostering Attachment Drug Court at FBB and began learning parenting skills, developing a support system and addressing her addiction and depression.

Today, Will is an energetic, curious three-year old who talks a mile a minute and lights up the halls of FBB with his laughter. His piercing brown eyes dance as he runs ahead of Julie to greet FBB teachers and staff each day. Julie recently graduated from the drug court, is working toward a degree in social services and achieved honor roll status. Thanks to the support provided by FBB, Julie and Will are developing the skills needed to lead fulfilling and productive lives!

Graduate Highlights

Alyssa, 4

Running, jumping, tumbling and laughing, four-year old Alyssa explores the play yard at FBB. Alyssa is a fun-loving, caring little girl who loves hugs from Mom and Dad. When they first came to FBB, Alyssa’s parents were struggling to break the inter-generational cycle of drug abuse that they witnessed as children and to learn parenting skills in spite of the learning disabilities they both face. They have worked hard to meet the ever-changing needs of their children while providing them a safe and loving home. Alyssa has blossomed into a social butterfly and is now prepared to be successful in a Head Start classroom this fall.

Itzel, 5

“I-T-Z-E-L. That’s me!” proclaimed five-year old Itzel triumphantly during her last day of class at FBB. When she first came to FBB, Itzel was a quiet ten-month old who was beginning to show signs of depression. Her melancholy mood and absent smile reflected the inconsistent attachment between Itzel and her mother, who lacked a support network and suffered from depression herself. FBB helped Itzel’s parents access mental health services, English-language training and social supports. Today, Itzel has transformed into a social, happy child whose personality hardly resembles her earlier self. Itzel’s family thanks FBB for the guidance provided during home visits, the individualized support for Itzel in the therapeutic classroom and the social opportunities they received at FBB Family Night events.

“When I get big, I’m going to jail just like my Daddy!”

-Nicolas, 4 years old

When the police carried out a drug raid at his home, Nicolas was less than four years old. He has seen his father taken away in handcuffs in a police car. Nicolas’s mother, who struggles with drug addiction and depression, is unable to give him hugs, won’t let him sit on her lap, and can’t look into his eyes. Without supervision, Nicolas often wanders off into the neighborhood; once they found him at construction site.

What kind of person will Nicolas become? A drug addict? A criminal?

Nicolas now attends our therapeutic classrooms which are designed to prepare children for kindergarten by stimulating brain development and teaching social skills and empathy. When Nicolas first entered the classrooms, he didn’t know how to interact with the other children or the caregivers. He pushed and hit them, grabbed toys, grunted and growled, and called them names like, “stupid head.”

After a year in the classroom, his caregiver, Ben, has noticed small but important changes in his behavior. Nicolas shared a toy with a friend named Fabian. Instead of grabbing, he asked Brianna if he could use a tool to cut play dough. When Lilliana was withdrawn and didn’t want to play, Nicolas gave her a hug and asked what was wrong.

Family Building Blocks is planting the seeds of empathy and social skills. Whether these seeds grow or stagnate depends on a lot of factors. His parents are taking some positive steps. His father is in drug treatment and looking for a job. His mother is investigating drug treatment options.

However, a few weeks ago Ben heard Nicolas say, “Teacher, when I get big, I’m going to jail just like my Daddy!” In Nicolas’s family, they don’t talk about having a college fund; they talk about having a “bond fund” to bail family members out of jail.

We can’t guarantee what will happen to Nicolas, but we’re doing all we can to help him. Nicolas is at a critical stage in his life for healthy brain development. Without the right kind of environment, that healthy development is lost forever. FBB is giving Nicolas the chance of going to college instead of jail.

Want to help children like Nicolas? Find out how you can support the work we do at FBB.