The Group Helped Her Get There

Another great example is a family who had worked with DHS previously without much success, and she was resistant to taking advantage of mental health services. Taking a similar approach, we invited individuals from her church, a school counselor who took an interest in the children, and a family friend to participate in the case.

Involving people the family already knew and trusted made it easier to find somewhere the kids could stay while the mom worked on her goals. The kids had an easier transition and the mom was more engaged in her goals because she knew the people her kids were staying with.

Again, bucking tradition, we secured permission for members of the informal support group to transport the kids and supervise visits between the kids and their father, who was in jail. Not only did this help the kids, but it also gave the mother time to attend the other children’s school and sporting events, so that she could play an active part in their lives.

Involving her personal contacts in monthly team meetings and having them participate in the discussions with professionals had a great impact on the success of this case. Not only did this build trust, but it also prompted honesty among those that knew the mom well. As a result, the group as a whole was able to encourage her to get her mental health needs addressed. She had resisted past attempts by DHS to get help with her mental health, but the group helped her get there. And guess what? The results were incredible.