Inspirations
“To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it.” ~ Mother Teresa
Making a difference in the life of a child
Paula Ekle, LCPC - Clinical Director of Community Based Services
As we learn about all the complications that have occurred in the lives of our youth, making a difference can sound daunting. How can we possibly act as a catalyst in helping them create a better tomorrow when so many forces appeared to have worked against them?
Yet through conversations with children and adults who have been there, one notices it isn't a particular counseling theory or best selling book that leaves a mark - it's about influence, about people - about how someone made them feel during a very vulnerable time.
I recently had the opportunity to visit with two YBGR alumni who are now adults. They are by all accounts successful - one a chemical engineer making a six-figure income, the other on his way toward graduating with an art/psychology major.
What, I asked, made the difference for them? Easy. It was that counselor that took the time to "get real" with him, to look him in the eye and say, "You can do this. I know you can." It was the one who said, "It seems you're having a hard time - let's go shoot some hoops." It was the one who respected his space when she sensed it was just too painful to go there. It was the therapist who was not afraid to be his voice during a family therapy session - who acknowledged his presence instead of talking about him like he was invisible. It was the counselor who didn't force his opinion on him, but rather modeled the right way to interact without saying a word. These were gestures - moments - these men remembered and will never forget.
Recently a behavior specialist in one of our school-based programs listened intently to a family who had been resistant to help. After months of coaxing, they finally came in for a school meeting. The father was on disability; the mother had no idea how to get connected with much needed services. The behavior specialist immediately helped them get clothing for all four children. She tracked down birth certificates in order to sign up for Medicaid. This entailed a cost, so the team decided to fund it. With some assistance in removing one barrier at a time, the family now appears to have what it needs physically and emotionally to create a better history. They have a chance. And providing that chance is what making a difference in the life of a child is all about.
