Changing Lives >> St. Vincent’s Family Strengthening Program
St. Vincent’s Family Strengthening Program
“I felt lost with no idea how to get help for myself and my new baby girl . . . . How did this happen . . . ?”
I came to St. Vincent’s Family Strengthening Program when my daughter was four months old – but she had been born premature, so she was more like a three month old. I think with all of the stress I was experiencing at that point in my life – about money, and not having any family around me to help - I felt like I could hardly believe that I had a little human being to take care of. I was totally overwhelmed. I heard about the program at St. Vincent’s, and when I met with the staff for the first time, I felt such relief. It was as if someone finally saw me. Although I felt ashamed because I didn’t know how to help myself, they did not judge me. I began to understand, as they said, that “asking for help is a strength.” I have had to learn that lesson over and over again during the two years that I spent in the Family Strengthening Program, but I know now that I have grown so much. I know who I am now. I have found myself. I am smart. I am successful in school and I now have my AA in Early Childhood Education. My baby is now a happy, fun, talkative little two-year old. When I look at her, I see a bright future. I understand now that I came to St. Vincent’s to find myself and in the process, I also discovered my child. I think it saved her life. Make a gift. Change a life.
