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United Way Partners
with Family Connections
Justin’s Story
When there is a crisis
we as Americans want to help. Recently,
we have been plagued with hurricanes, Katrina being the largest in years.
The country pulled together and contributed financial support to help the
victims. Locally, our community
needs to do the same. The Tipp City
Area United Way’s Annual Campaign is down $20,000. from last year and needs
your financial support to help those from our community in crisis. Below is a story of one crisis in our community and there are
many others. You can make a
difference in the lives of your neighbors, someone from Tipp City, Monroe and
Bethel Townships. The only
difference is our crisis is silent and is sometimes overlooked. Last year Justin*, age
10, was not able to see either of his parents for 6 months. In January
Justin’s mother, who he lived with, had been ordered to a rehabilitation
facility to overcome her cocaine addiction. Because Justin’s father does not
live with them, and there were no extended family members who could take him in,
Justin was placed in Foster Care. The first few months of foster care were
pretty scary for Justin. Mom was gone … he had a new home … new school …
new rules everywhere he went. On top of all of this,
Justin had difficulties making new friends. He missed his old friends and his
neighborhood and was desperate to be accepted into a group of new friends.
Unfortunately, the group that seemed willing to accept Justin was a group of
boys and girls who had little respect for rules. They frequently got into
trouble at school and at home. Before long Justin was doing everything right
along with his new “bad” friends. Justin still missed his mother and his old
friends, but hanging with his new buddies took his mind off of his problems.
Soon Justin started missing school, not turning in homework assignments and his
grades started to decline. This pattern continued until one Friday night when
Justin, while with his friends, got arrested for being out after curfew. He was
sent to a detention facility for youth where he went to school and again had to
make a whole new set of friends. While in the detention center, Justin’s
mother was released from her drug rehabilitation program, got a job and was
living in an apartment. Facility regulations allowed Justin and his mother one
visit a month, which didn’t seem like a lot to either of them. Justin continued to get
into trouble at the detention facility until his counselor realized that Justin
needed to see his mother more often. The center was able to arrange for more
visits with Justin until his sentence was served and he was then placed in a
special Foster Home for children who had severe behavior problems. Justin’s
Foster Parents had 3 other foster children and did not have the time, or the
space for Justin’s mother to come visit him. The Foster parents had heard
about Family Connection and how they might be able to help Justin and his
mother. Justin now comes to
Family Connection to see his mother 2 times a week for 2 hours each visit and
his grades are improving while he stays out of trouble. Justin’s mother has
remained drug-free for one year, and has a good job. Both Justin and his mother
have wonderful visits playing games and sometimes baking cookies together.
Justin’s counselors and foster parents think that Justin will be ready to go
back home in a few months. Please give to your
local United Way to help others in crisis like Justin.
You may send your monetary contribution to: Deborah Carr, Tipp City Area
United Way, P.O. Box 95, Tipp City, OH 45371
or call our office at 937-669-FUND (3863) with additional questions.
Other information may be obtained at our website: www.tippcityauw.org. *
Justin’s name has been changed to protect his identity. |
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Send mail to webmaster@tippcityauw.org with
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