Grantee Profile: From Homeless to Model MomFebruary 4, 2008 |
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 Three years ago Keisha W. was homeless and living on the street. Then she got pregnant. For her baby son's sake, Keisha sought sobriety and moved into a subsidized apartment in Santa Monica when he was one month old. The Department of Children and Family Services, who was monitoring her case, then referred her to the SPA 5 Partnerships For Families (PFF) program lead by Saint John's Child & Family Development Center. The PFF collaborative offered Keisha the opportunity to turn her life around - and that she did. Keisha worked closely with her In-Home Therapist, Amanda Rowen, to strengthen her parenting and life skills, and to find job and childcare. In six months Keisha passed her driving test, bought a car, and together she and Amanda focused on job preparation and found her a position with the local homeless assistance program. "The financial stability and self-confidence her job brings allows her to create an atmosphere where her child can grow up feeling safe and secure," said Amanda about Keisha, who has been a secretary for the homeless program for almost a year. Keisha wrote a letter to the program in praise of Amanda and the difference the program has made in her life. "The services you provide are very helpful in many positive ways," she wrote. "[Amanda] has helped me in areas of my life ... [she has] enlightened me ... [she] helped me be encouraged and prosper." As with all PFF programs, the SPA 5 collaborative offers case management, family support, and linkages to other supportive services for families considered to be at-risk. This particular collaborative has a strong mental health component, and all staff members have expertise in dealing with mental health issues. "In addition to their warmth and caring, our staff knows how to assess and handle the crises that seem to be present during every home visit," said Katherine Reuter, PFF program director. Organizations that are part of the collaborative include Connections for Children, Legal Aid Foundation, Open Paths and the Ocean Park Community Center. Currently the collaborative is working to improve the lives of more than 85 families. To learn more about the Partnerships For Families program in SPA 5 call Katherine Reuter at 310-829-8678. |
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