Every young person experiences setbacks. We know that’s part of growing up.
For most of us, we have a support system in place to help pick us up when we fall down or make mistakes.
But what happens when support systems break down or don’t exist?
At Second Story, we believe support can make all the difference when provided at critical turning points in a young person’s life.
We met “Yvonne” at one of those key moments. Her family unexpectedly experienced significant financial hardship. They lost their home and had to find a new place to live. The stress of relocating left Yvonne feeling uncertain, unsettled, and disconnected. Her family was referred to Second Story in the Community.
Yvonne quickly found consistency and comfort by regularly participating in group activities with peers and attentive counselors. She could access homework help, participate in peer outings, and receive guidance about making healthy, positive decisions. Even when the pandemic forced changes, Second Story staff members were able to include Yvonne in virtual activities so she could remain connected to friends and seek help when needed. For Yvonne, these opportunities made it easier to cope with the disruptive changes in her life and helped her make new friends.
To help ease the financial burden on Yvonne’s family, the Culmore Family Resource Center offered food, toiletries, and cleaning products for pick-up at no cost. Second Story staff helped her parents connect to community resources and programming, like computer training, parenting classes, and medical and legal clinics.
With just a little bit of help, and a new support system in place, Yvonne and her family were able to adjust to their new living situation and start on a path toward regaining financial stability.
Often, we meet a young person like Yvonne after a setback causes a ripple event and ultimately leads to a different and more dangerous path. By stepping in at these critical turning points, we can provide much-needed support so all the young people in our community have the chance to overcome setbacks and grow and thrive.
“Yvonne’s” name, image, and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.
