Working Together to Make a Difference

Story submitted by April Simpson, THINK Educator

I was thrilled to be part of a non-profit that could see a gap in youth services and develop a solution to help those in Kinship or Foster care with their everyday challenges.

When multiple programs are within an organization, it is sometimes hard to see how they can effectively overlap. This story is just one example of how our programs intersect.

Our Bridge Mentor has developed an excellent relationship with the school staff and students in her high school setting. She stands in the gap and guides foster or kinship care students through school challenges to help them maintain academic success.

We also have a THINK Educator who serves in the same school and teaches healthy relationship education in health classes.

The Mentor expressed a concern for a student on her caseload to the Educator coming in for classes. She explained that the student had been in an unhealthy relationship for a couple of years, and since the Educator had this student in her class, the Mentor introduced them.   

The student was quiet in class and did not participate much in the lessons. The Educator tried to connect with the student throughout their lessons; however, due to her lack of participation and sometimes the expression on her face, she assumed the student had closed her mind to the information being shared.

A couple of months later, the Mentor invited the Educator to lunch with this student. Upon arriving at the school, the Educator discovered that the student had something important to share with her. When they sat down for lunch, the student told the Educator that she listened to every word that came out of her mouth while teaching and realized how unhealthy her relationship had become.  

The lessons and the support from her Mentor were both successful in helping her open her eyes to her situation. She found the courage to break off the relationship. She had a bit of a struggle with the breakup, eventually needing to file a restraining order. But she felt much stronger by being out of that relationship by that lunch date.   

Clearly, the Mentor cared for her students like they were one of her children. She planted little seeds, knowing it was a delicate balance of words, understanding, and compassion, knowing that she must make these tough decisions for herself like every other teen. 

Our Educator realized that our programs independently make a considerable impact. However, working together in schools is a robust protective factor for our youth. The Mentor planted the seed, and our healthy relationship lessons were the motivator. Our staff work closely with each other and community partners to serve the youth in the capacity they need.