Success Stories
Accessing Healthcare

A Woman Struggles with Depression and Now Helps Others
Kindergarten Child’s Life Had Derailed.  United Way Put it Back on Track
Kicking Drugs, Managing Depression, Now Leading Others
In Difficult Cases, Respite Saves the Entire Family
Leaving Abuse Behind and Standing On Her Own
A Youngster Copes with a Sexual Assault with Caring, Gentle Medical Support
A Premature Infant Became a Confident Toddler with Early Intervention
The Right Support Helps Her Turn Away from Substance Abuse

A Woman Struggles with Depression and Now Helps Others
Community Mental Health Education & Consumer Empowerment Service   (Mental Health Association of Morris County)
"Susanna" is a 55 year old who suffers from depression.  Susanna struggled with her depression for many years and as a result had a difficult time communicating with others causing her to isolate herself from social activities.

Susanna was lonely.  One of her few friends attended the Mental Health Association's Consumer Advocacy Program and encouraged Susanna to go with her.  Susanna finally got the courage to go although she was nervous about what to say and what others would think of her.  At first, she felt overwhelmed but as the meeting went on she began to feel comfortable.  

Susanna began going weekly to meetings and became a CAP member.  She also started going to the Social Club, a program that introduces consumers to low or no cost activities.  Susanna liked the Club because it gave her a chance to do new and fun activities she normally couldn't do on her own.  Over time she no longer felt scared to talk and began to open up to others.

After being active in CAP for several years, Susanna decided that she wanted to do more for others.  The Peer to Peer Support Line had just started where consumers provided telephone support to other consumers, and Susanna thought that this was something she could be good at.  She began working on the Peer Line and felt like she was making a difference.

If you ask Susanna today what helped during her recovery she will tell you that it was the support of the MHA staff and consumers, working on the Peer Line, and being involved in the programs at the MHA.  These life-changing programs are supported by United Way.

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Kindergarten Child’s Life Had Derailed.  United Way Put it Back on Track
When the local police called "Billy's" mom to tell her they had been asked to remove her five-year-old son from the classroom, she knew the family needed help. 

In the first few months of Kindergarten, Billy had been disruptive, belligerent and uncontrollable.  He was hyperactive and impulsive, had temper tantrums, and poor social skills.  At home, he had nightmares and couldn't sleep.  To return to school, Billy would need a full psychiatric evaluation to determine if he needed medication and could function in a school setting.

Desperate for guidance, his mother contacted NewBridge Services, Inc., a United Way funded nonprofit that serves Morris and Passaic Counties in New Jersey.  An agency clinician met with the family and school personnel, and soon began treating the child.

After several months of play therapy, Billy began to share his feelings.  He was worried about his parents' marriage and the future of his family.  And, sensing the expectations of his mom, dad, and teacher, he was anxious and apprehensive about school and his performance there.

Now, more than a year later, Billy is in first grade.  His fears and attention-seeking behaviors have lessened significantly.  His parents have been involved in family therapy to address their parenting skills, and couples' counseling to help improve their relationship.  While some issues are still being addressed, Billy seems much more at peace, both at home and school, earning compliments for his more positive behaviors and rewards for jobs well done.  Medication was not needed.

"Without our partnership with United Way," says Bob Parker, Executive Director at NewBridge, "we might not have been able to help Billy and his family turn their lives around in this way, and many others in our community would go wanting."

"United Way has a very effective process of identifying community needs, and they request proposals from agencies that can respond to those needs," adds Parker.  "As a result, it has made a big investment in several NewBridge programs that are critical to our mission:  Children's Mental Health Services; our high school dropout education / employment program; and our affordable housing development for persons with special needs."

NewBridge Services, Inc. was founded in 1963 as a nonprofit agency dedicated to helping those with mental illness.  Since the 1980's, as local needs have evolved, its areas of focus expanded as well.  It now provides a host of services, including:

• Individual, family, and support group mental health counseling
• Substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation
• Prevention, education, and counseling programs for children, teens, and teachers
• Senior education and independent living support
• Affordable housing and assistance with independent living skills for people with special needs

NewBridge employs more than 175 professionals including adolescent specialists, addiction and domestic violence professionals, care managers, nurses, nutritionists, play therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. In 2006 alone, it helped more than 9,500 people bring balance to their lives.

"In Billy's case, NewBridge and United Way worked together to protect a child – our most precious resource – and to keep him and his family healthy and able to move forward with their lives in a more productive and successful way," says Parker.

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Kicking Drugs, Managing Depression, Now Leading Others
General Counseling   (Hope House)
"Rich," 17, came to Hope House in April 2005 for both behavioral health and substance abuse related problems.  Initially, he was resistant to treatment as many adolescents are.  He was also diagnosed with major depression.  Rich was taking Zoloft for depression and Geodan for auditory hallucinations he had reported.  Since coming to Hope House, Rich has reported that he wanted to get better and seemed to be determined.  He began attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings to work on his substance abuse.  With his Hope House counselor he developed specific goals such as remaining abstinent from drug and alcohol use, as well as learning relaxation techniques to alleviate depressive episodes, improving communication skills, and going back to school.

Rich's life has improved so much that he has facilitated a group discussion on communication skills for other adolescents.  He is no longer taking medication and exhibits no signs of depression or auditory hallucinations. 

Finally, Rich will be enrolling in an adult school to obtain his high school diploma.  Currently, he is considering going to college to become a counselor. 

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In Difficult Cases, Respite Saves the Entire Family
Caregiver Respite   (United Cerebral Palsy of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey)
"Ricky" and "Marcus" are brothers diagnosed with multiple disabilities including behavior disorders.  Their main caretakers are their grandparents who both are suffering from numerous medical conditions themselves.  Despite the fact that providing for Ricky and Marcus has been an extreme financial strain, the children receive the best that the grandparents can give.

Both boys are bright but their behaviors can be very challenging, and they lose control easily.  In addition, they both have demanding care schedules, including a rigorous physiotherapy schedule four times a week.  At home the siblings often have altercations with one another which distress their grandparents.  If this responsibility were not enough, these grandparents also care for an elderly mother, who is in her nineties and suffers from cancer.  The grandmother is the only caretaker for her mother at this point

Ricky and Marcus come to respite on an ongoing basis, which gives their grandmother her special time to visit and care for her mother on a consistent basis.  During this time, the grandfather enjoys just a little time to rest and be alone.  Both grandparents are extremely grateful for the respite they receive through the United Cerebral Palsy programs.

Thanks to United Way's help, programs like this one help hundreds of people every day.

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Leaving Abuse Behind and Standing On Her Own
Victim Services  (Jersey Battered Women’s Service)
"Vicky" is 23 with a 2-year-old son.  She was referred to JBWS' Community Counseling Program (CCP) by the Sexual Assault Center in 2003 after her (then) live-in boyfriend was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, sexual assault, terroristic threats, and illegal use of a weapon.  Vicky went to the police after her abuser grabbed her hair, threw her down on the floor, and kicked her twice on the side of the body.  Vicky indicated that, beyond this incident of physical abuse, she experienced isolation, threats, and sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse.  Her abuser went to jail after violating a restraining order and Vicky moved in with her family.  She began attending CCP groups for support and validation but left due to scheduling conflicts.  Vicky still had a connection with CCP via the Morris County Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) where her case was often discussed and communication maintained through her Victim/Witness Advocate in the Prosecutor's Office.

In the beginning of 2004, Vicky returned to JBWS.  She and her son stayed in JBWS protective shelter for 90 days when controlling behavior by her father became a strain at home.  Vicky's relationship with her father deteriorated as she began to recognize his pattern of verbal abuse and control.  She became determined to break the cycle of victimization.  After a successful stay in shelter, Vicky was accepted in JBWS' Transitional Living Program.  She returned to CCP and attended the Transitions Group, to learn about healthy relationships and build a network of emotional support and validation.  With support from JBWS' Legal Advocates Vicky recently testified in a Grand Jury trial against her abuser and continues to work with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office to prepare for his upcoming trial.  Vicky maintains her fulltime job while participating in the Transitional Living and Community Counseling Programs.  She is interested in pursuing a college degree and is focused on getting the support needed for her and her son.

While at JBWS, Vicky received:  Emergency protection and shelter; Crisis counseling and safety planning; Legal advocacy; Individual and group (non-residential) counseling; Parenting lessons; and, Peer support.

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A Youngster Copes with a Sexual Assault with Caring, Gentle Medical Support
Advocacy Program  (Deirdre O’Brien Child Advocacy Center)
"Janie," 11, and her parents were brought to the Deirdre O'Brien Child Advocacy Center following her allegation that she was sexually assaulted by her neighbor.  The family was accompanied by a detective from her local police department, where her parents originally reported the incident, and a detective from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, who conducted the investigation and subsequent interview.  In addition, she was seen by the Center's on site pediatrician for a medical exam.

Upon arriving, Janie appeared withdrawn.  A curly haired little girl, with a round face and soft demeanor, she said little while she waited to be interviewed.  She had been suffering from harassment at school and in the neighborhood due to her disclosure.  She had stopped participating in after school activities due to the blame placed upon her by neighbors and peers for coming forward.  She no longer wanted to attend school and had become disobedient at home, frequently lashing out at her parents.  Center staff engaged her by pointing out a dollhouse in the corner of the playroom.  As she sat and played with the dollhouse, her parents were amazed to see her smile for the first time in weeks.

Following her interview, Janie was examined by the Center's pediatrician.  Understandably, Janie was nervous about the intrusive nature of the exam.  By the time her questions had been answered by the examining doctor and nurse, she willingly went to the exam room, even giving her mother the ok to remain upstairs.

During this time Mrs. D. was doing her best to be upbeat, while the tears formed in her eyes, and Mr. D. was obviously distraught, pacing through the waiting room.  As he later said in a letter he wrote regarding his daughter's abuse, "to say what has happened to my family this past week is a shock is possibly the greatest understatement in the world.  A man we trusted assaulted my eleven year old daughter…and I wasn't there to protect her."  He told staff that he and his wife thought "this kind of thing happens one in a million times, to kids from bad neighborhoods or unstable homes."  They were horrified to learn, as he later wrote, "that child abuse can invade any community, any family, at any time. I protected my daughter from the stranger on the playground, but how was I supposed to know I needed to protect her from friends, family and neighbors?"  Mr. D. doubted he would be able to "hold it together." Obviously in crisis and not knowing what to do next, the family was referred to our counseling program.

After their initial visit to the Center for investigative and medical services, the D. family continued to attend counseling.  Individual sessions focused on building Janie's self esteem and social coping skills, as the harassment had not subsided.  Additionally, Janie was internalizing tremendous guilt for, as she put it "causing so much trouble for everyone."  The counselor spent a great deal of time reassuring Janie that she did nothing wrong and did the right thing by coming forward.

As time passed, Janie returned to school.  Neighbors and classmates eventually found other targets for their bullying as Janie's abuser agreed to plead guilty to child abuse charges, sparing her the additional trauma of testifying and a long, drawn out trial.

Janie's parents continue to struggle with the reality of the situation.  Family counseling has helped them cope personally as well as understand and support J.D. as parents.  They sum up their experience at the Deirdre O'Brien Child Advocacy Center as follows; "I hope you all know how much we've needed your help and support.  You were a true lifeline to our family during these most trying of times.  My family means everything to me.  Please know how appreciated all you've done really is."

United Way is proud to support Deirdre O'Brien and the caring work they do with children at a very difficult time in their lives.

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A Premature Infant Became a Confident Toddler with Early Intervention
Early Intervention Program for Children with Special Needs  (P.G. Chambers School)
"Eric's" mother shares his story.
I am so grateful for the teachers and therapists at P.G. Chambers School.

Our son was born premature and weighed only 2 lbs. 27 ounces at birth.  He was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 1-½ months, and when he came home, we were full of fear and anxiety about his future.  He was clearly at "high risk" for developmental delays and other learning problems.  Through our pediatrician, we contacted the staff at the Early Intervention Program at P.G. Chambers School, and within days, we had our first visit from a member of the program team.

We don't know what we would have done without them.  We received Physical Therapy,  Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy for our little guy.  Each day we saw progress and they encouraged us along the way.

When we went to see our pediatrician, she was so pleased with his progress that she did not want to rush into any other treatment.

The doctor told us that it is not uncommon for premature infants, without other medical complications, to develop well in some areas and to fall behind in others.  Thanks to his Early Intervention Program at P.G. Chambers School, our son is doing so well.  His physical abilities are right on target, and although somewhat delayed, his language skills are coming along.  We expect that after another year or so of intensive speech therapy through Early Intervention, he will be able to start preschool here in our community.

We still have a long way to go but we are hopeful."

United Way support of schools like P.G. Chambers ensures that preschoolers grow to reach their potential in many different ways.

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The Right Support Helps Her Turn Away from Substance Abuse
Halfway House  (Mrs. Wilson’s)
"Dee" shares her story of recovery.
"In school, I always felt different, inadequate.  It was weed and drink that gave me a sense of belonging."  But Dee says she would rather talk about her recovery than her years using drugs and alcohol and ending up living on the street.

"Mrs. Wilson's was an awesome experience," she says.  "I never thought I would be able to go into a long-term program, and I certainly wasn't sure I could do six to eight months at the House!  But the minute I walked through the doors, I felt such a sense of relief.  I felt ‘safe' for the first time."

That was nearly nine years ago.  "Today I have my three children back, my relationship with my mother is good, I go to church and last year I got married."  Dee also is proud to have a full-time job.  "This is a job where I can help others who are also struggling with this disease.  I am finally able to give back."  Last fall, Dee started school to study for her CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification).

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