Eleven years ago, Lisa P. worked as a nurse in Georgia. Her experiences treating children made it all too clear that there was a need for foster care in her state. Her wife agreed – and so began their foster family journey.
Within a year, they were raising three children. A fourth was placed with them several years later.
As with many families, some of their children had challenges. One had been placed in ten different households in one year. Two exhibited behaviors that suggested issues. Testing confirmed a need for interventions for autism, cognitive delays, ADHD and attachment disorder.
The family moved to Connecticut, where child services were more robust – and Lisa was able to become a full-time stay-at-home mom.
As their two girls entered their tween years, the eldest began to struggle with mental health issues. She withdrew from the family and began hiding and piercing her body in secret. Lisa and her wife began considering enrolling their daughter into a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): a structured, high-intensity outpatient treatment option.
Lisa’s wife’s birthday arrived. The family had plans for a celebratory dinner out, but their daughter began to behave more erratically than ever before. Upended by the idea of participating in a PHP, she made threats, frightening everyone, and then locked herself in her bedroom.
Lisa and her wife love their children deeply, and Lisa has experience working with children with behavioral issues and learning delays. But in that moment, with their twelve-year-old daughter behind a locked door, obviously in crisis, they were two parents who simply did not know what to do. They were stuck – and terrified.
Lisa remembered 211 – and dialed. A kind, knowledgeable 211 Contact Specialist answered. She listened to Lisa’s situation intently, carefully evaluating the situation and identifying the best resources to help the family.
Within 30 minutes, a youth mobile crisis team arrived, provided free, immediate, on-site mental health support and de-escalation services. The attending counsellor spent a great deal of time with Lisa’s daughter, who eventually emerged from her bedroom. The counsellor continued to help her work through her feelings and made sure she was safe, calm and emotionally regulated before the team left the home.
Thanks to 211, Lisa and her wife were also able to secure ongoing support moving forward, embarking on a new chapter for the entire family.
What amazes Lisa to this day is not just how quickly 211 responded, but how well they matched her family’s needs with the services available. “They listened to our concerns. They were able to support my wife and me, too. They really listened – and they really helped us.”
The number of CT residents needing help continues to rise, but 211 is here to answer the call 24/7/365.
Thank you for supporting stronger investment in 211!