01/10/2017 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Goal Actual * % of Goal Adults 130 107 82.30% Children 190 185 97.36% Families 65 94 144.61% * These numbers are total served, including carry-over clients. (New Adults = 22; New Children = 41; New Families = 17) Safe Families in Indian River County Impact Story As a parent, I was beside myself. I wanted to do better, I just did not know how. I heard about CASTLE through my son's school and though I would give them a call to see if they could help me with my parenting skills; and sure enough CASTLE helped me become a better parent, making better decisions and having hope for the future. I am 36 years old and my life has not been easy. I grew up in a very unstable home. My father left the household when I was a toddler and my mother did her best to raise me in a single parent home the best she could. Finances were always an issue but we made the best out of a difficult situation. I made it to the 9th grade where I met my future husband, fell in love and soon found myself pregnant. Nine months later I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, then two more children followed shortly thereafter. Money was tight and my husband and I were at odds over the proper way to discipline our children. My husband left after a few more years of struggling both financially and emotionally and I found myself a single mother raising three children alone. I moved in with my mother until I could figure out where to go from here. I was requested to attend a meeting for my son at his school for discipline issues, when his guidance counselor informed me of CASTLE. What a shock it was when my Parent Educator came to see me and said I am here to help you, not to take your children away. After several visits I began to trust him and believe in him. Today my children and I look forward to our weekly visits from our Parent Educator. Not only did he help me to become a better parent, but we talk about our future. I have a new confidence as a parent learning parenting techniques to deal with my three children. In my purse I keep written information on dealing with behaviors in case a situation shows up in public. I am learning how to nurture my children and provide them with a loving childhood filled with wonderful childhood memories. They know that their mother will always be there for them in both the good and bad times. Who knew that there was this service called CASTLE our there for mothers like me. I hope that CASTLE will be there for all the rest. Thankfully, I found CASTLE for both me and my three children. CASTLE Strengthening Families Program P178