We are proud of our many clients who have successfully changed their lives and the lives of their children. Through their own hard work and committment, the support of our team of professionals and volunteers, and the entire Family Enhancement Center community we celebrate their achievements.
Here are just a few of their stories:
Amy Moeller, Therapist
Robert was referred to the Family Enhancement Center from Hennepin County Child Protection after having had a physical confrontation with his 14 year old daughter that resulted in her being injured. Robert also has a 7 year old son. Both children live with their Father. Their Mother has not been in their lives for many years. Robert and the children became involved in our in-home therapy program. Over time Robert began to learn how to parent in a non-violent way as well as began to understand the struggles his children were having at the loss of their Mother in their lives. Furthermore, both children have disabilities, which Robert learned to deal with in much more healthy ways. FEC helped this family become successful through direct teaching, learning parenting tools, and helping through individual therapy. Today Robert and the two children continue to thrive. A true success story!
Liz Gamble-Taylor, Therapist
Carla was referred to Liz after her 13 year old daughter was sexual assaulted at gunpoint. The perpetrator was Carla’s live-in boyfriend. Police arrested the boyfriend and took all three children out of the family home due to safety concerns. Through In- Home Family Therapy, Carla and her daughter began to re-develop trust and create a safety plan that Carla’s daughter could live with. Carla also attended the Families Moving Forward group and the children received therapy services.
Over time, Carla was able to create a safe environment for her children and they were successfully reunited. Carla and her daughter are well on their way to healing the pain and violence that tore them all apart.
Charlene Hughes, In-Home Program
Shawnda is a first time mother of a 5 month old girl. Shawnda’s baby had been taken from her home by child protection due to failure to thrive. Her baby was underweight and not growing as she should.
Shawnda started attending the Solid Starts group at the suggestion of her child protection worker. She learned about how to properly care for her infant and the baby quickly started gaining weight. Shawnda was able to get her baby back in her home and is now giving her the care she needed.
Shawnda continues to attend the group because she enjoys the group, the support and she continues to gain parenting skills helping her to grow and become the kind of mother she’s proud of. She also appreciates getting out of her home and connecting with other parents and community members.
An African family was referred to us after an incident of domestic violence involving the pregnant wife and causing the premature birth of their baby. Culturally, this was a difficult case. Many African cultures keep problems within the family and away from outsiders. Knowing this, Carolyn was careful
in her approach -- assuring the couple that she was there not to tell them how to raise their children, but to help them keep their family together.
After just three meetings the family has already made changes. During a recent argument, the husband used tools and behaviors learned
through the In-Home Parenting Program. Carolyn has used role-playing to help this couple look at their communication patterns.This helped them see their own role as they communicate and parent.They are now better able to understand each other’s point of view. With such quick progress, Carolyn is excited about how well this family will be able do in the future.
Carolyn Washington,In-Home Program
Martha Rodriquez, Solid Starts program
