Bree’s* early life was marked by abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. Due to these experiences, she was eventually diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As a small child, she was adopted, but due to her behaviors and several other factors, she ended up back in the foster system.
When she was nine years old, Bree was matched with a new foster family who was eventually able to adopt her. However, she did not have the tools, even with loving support, to manage her feeling or behaviors. Bree struggled with impulse control, and because of this often ended up in dangerous situations or injuring herself and others.
Eventually, Bree was referred to our Behavioral Interventionist program, which works with youth just like her who are struggling with adverse behaviors and severe mental health challenges. Our Behavioral Interventionists provide intensive one-on-one services to children using neuro-development activities that help to re-wire negative neuropathways in the brain.
Though it took time and a few starts and stops, Bree’s Behavioral Interventionist continued to work with her, her physical outbursts became infrequent. Her self-confidence was improving, and her impulsive behaviors became rarer. By the time the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, Bree was down to just three elevated behavioral classes at school and was on target to start the next year fully integrated with her peers. Over the next year and a half, Bree’s behaviors improved and her BI hours were reduced to just a few hours a week. She was also able to spend time with her biological sister and brothers.
In 2021, Bree’s Family Coordinator brought up the opportunity for Bree to graduate from Behavioral Interventionist services. Bree’s family discussed it among themselves, as well as with other staff at FosterAdopt Connect, and came to the conclusion that it was time!
Thanks to her dedicated, loving family and the skills she learned through Behavioral Interventionist support, Bree is now thriving. She is kind and thoughtful, always asking other people how they are doing. She is a brilliant strategist when playing board or card games, and a creative crafter who loves adding all sorts of pretty little details to projects. We were so excited to celebrate her graduation.
Bree is just one of the many youth who have had their lives transformed by our Behavioral Interventionist program. If you have a degree in Social Work and want to join our team, apply to be a Behavioral Interventionist today!
*Name changed to protect privacy.