Fifteen-year-old Christina was on the verge of being expelled from school. Physical and verbal aggression towards her peers, excessive truancy, and gang involvement were serious issues and lead to her referral to The Village Family Services. Christina was living with an older sibling, after she was removed from her mother’s care due to fears for her safety. In desperate need of help to cope with and manager her emotional outbursts and high-risk behaviors, Christina and her sibling were in survival mode and knew they needed help.
A Wraparound team was assigned to Christina and her family and, after several months, a trusting relationship developed. With the team’s advocacy and assistance, the family was successful in suspending the expulsion order. Christina was placed in a smaller classroom environment and her grades improved drastically. She was soon promoted to a regular classroom environment where she continued to excel. Meanwhile, Christina’s mother took initiative during this difficult time for her daughter and with approval participated in all of the school meetings and hearings. With the support of the Wrap team, the mother continued her personal fight to live a better life with her children. She reunified with her children and continued to participate in the program.
As the family came together again, Christina was able to control her emotions and improved communication with her mother. She thrived in her home environment and at school, and even held a part-time job after school. The family graduated from the Wraparound program and DCFS closed the case. A recent follow up revealed continuing success in family communications, a strong relationship between Christina and her mother, absence of physical and verbal altercations, and Christina’s strong performance in school.
By the time he was 17, Michael’s history of vandalism, fighting, excessive truancy and curfew violations had caused probation officers to refer to him as “a waste of time, money and resources.” His troubles continued at home, where his aggressive behavior towards family members forced him to be removed and placed in a rented bedroom with his father. The next several months, Michael was in and out of juvenile hall due to verbal and physical aggression towards teachers in school.
Michael’s severe behavioral issues made him a candidate for the Wraparound Program. With the intensive support of his “Wrap Team,” Michael learned to recognize and focus on his strengths. As a result, his negative behaviors diminished as he worked at rebuilding his life. Michael began attending courses at a local community college and eventually earned his high school diploma. He is currently a volunteer firefighter for Los Angeles County and is planning to enroll in paramedic training. Michael has established strong, supportive relationships within his community and has earned the respect of his colleagues. His Wrap Team looks forward to seeing Michael emerge as a successful young man pursuing a career in his chosen field.
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