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Safe Children, Stable Families, Secure Futures We'd like to share with you some stories of the people we serve here at Cardinal McCloskey Services. Can You help?
Hayden House & School Tricia came to Hayden House in the fall of 2000, shortly after her 12th birthday. She had been living with her mother and stepfather and occasionally staying with her aunt. Tricia's aunt brought her to a local health care clinic because Tricia was complaining of abdominal cramps. A worker at the clinic alerted child protective services after it was discovered that Tricia was suffering side effects of a sexually transmitted disease. Further investigation revealed that Tricia had been the victim of repeated sexual abuse by her stepfather since she was a pre-schooler. Tricia's mother, a heavy drinker, denied knowing. However, caseworkers believe that as a child, Mom had been a victim of abuse as well, could not cope with the situation and therefore drank herself into unconsciousness each night. When Tricia was brought to Hayden House she was very angry at having been taken from her friends - particularly her twenty- year old boyfriend with whom she reported being very sexually active. Tricia said she had been involved with him since she was nine. Psychiatric and psychological diagnostic assessments indicated that Tricia suffered from severe mood swings fluctuating from aggressive anger to suicide, severe depression, self destructive behavior including deliberately cutting herself and generally showed disregard and intentional cruelty to younger children and other girls. She related to older boys and men in a sexually promiscuous manner. Medical assessments indicated that Tricia had several sexually transmitted diseases and was missing many of her childhood immunizations. Academic assessments indicated she was at a 1st grade level instead of the appropriate 5th grade level. While Tricia was at Hayden House, case workers tried to reunite the family. Mom was not willing to remove the stepfather from the home (saying that it was Tricia's fault, "she was asking for it"). For a short time Tricia was placed in kinship care with her aunt, but was returned to Hayden House after Tricia had a violent outburst and physically assaulted her three-year old cousin living in the home. Once returned to Hayden House, Tricia was there for nearly a year. While at Hayden Tricia's behavior fluctuated. She would be fine for a few weeks and then become severely depressed and suicidal. She assaulted a staff member, pulled a kitchen knife on another staff member and threatened to kill several other children in residence. She kicked another child -- who was pregnant -- in the stomach, promising to kill the baby. In an apparent suicide note, she wrote, "I hate my life so much. I just want to die. Please don't stop me." Because of her young age, blatant sexual behavior and violence towards other girls, there was a reluctance to place Tricia in a residential treatment center. On three occasions, clinical staff agreed that psychiatric hospitalization was in Tricia's best interest. Tricia spent her 13th birthday in a psychiatric unit where she was caught seducing a nine-year old boy. Just recently, through extensive outreach efforts, Cardinal McCloskey's social workers helped to place Tricia in a special group home in Massachusetts for girls who have been severely sexually abused.
Hayden House & School Jason was nine when he was brought to Hayden House in November 2000. He was frail, extremely thin and very withdrawn. He arrived in the middle of the night wearing his dirty pajamas and no shoes. An anonymous call had alerted the police to check his house for an abandoned child. They found Jason sleeping on a cot in the basement. He told police that his mother had gone out a few days ago but would be back. Investigation of the house revealed no food, no shoes and only a few items of clothing for Jason. Jason told police that his Mom had been "away for four or five days, but she always comes back". Follow-up with the school district revealed that Jason had not been in school at all that year. School authorities reported believing that Jason had moved. The psychiatric and psychological diagnostic assessments done at Hayden House indicated that Jason suffered from extreme mood swings fluctuating from being totally withdrawn and not speaking to outburst of aggressive and assaultive behavior. Medical assessments indicated that Jason was severely malnourished, missing nearly all childhood immunizations, had poor eyesight, several teeth were decayed and he had difficulty hearing. Academic assessments indicated that Jason was functioning at a pre-school level with speech impediments and other learning impairments. The nurse made arrangements for visits to the dentist, an opthamologist and an audiologist. Jason was fitted with eye glasses, had several cavities filled and was fitted with a hearing aide. The school principal made arrangements with a speech therapist to work with Jason and teach child care workers basic techniques they could use to help Jason learn to speak clearer. Several days after Jason's arrival at Hayden, Jason's Mom returned home. She is a substance abuser who frequently disappeared for days. Jason's stepfather died a few years ago of a drug overdose. At the time, Jason did not know his birth father. Mom indicated to social workers that she wanted to be reunited with Jason and was willing to participate in the necessary substance abuse treatment and family rehabilitation programs. Jason fluctuated between being angry at not being allowed to go home and being extremely withdrawn. He frequently reported "hearing voices" and would become agitated and violent during those times. On one occasion when his mother did not show up for a scheduled "family visit", Jason was extremely distraught. He barricaded himself in the lounge area and would not let staff in for several hours. He threatened that he had a knife and would kill himself and anyone who came in. When Jason finally let staff in, he had smashed all the pictures, torn down curtains, punched several holes in the wall and thrown a chair through the window. Shortly after the missed visit, Mom dropped out of the programs and ended communication with Jason and the social work staff at Hayden. Fortunately, Jason's Mom provided social workers with information about Jason's father. Social workers made the outreach efforts and just before Thanksgiving 2001, Jason had been placed in temporary care with his father. Pending further court procedures, Jason could be placed with his father permanently. Once Jason had his hearing aid and glasses, teachers at the on-site school worked intensively with Jason to help him develop the basic educational skills he needed. Teachers worked with Jason all summer in special tutoring sessions. In his final educational assessments, Jason showed remarkable progress.
MRDD Program - Individual Residential Alternative Health Services Program Mabel is a 65-year old mildly retarded woman with a dual diagnosis of mental retardation and mental illness. She is a quiet woman who enjoys going to her day habilitation program, doing needlepoint by the fireplace, and living in her Westchester group home with her seven housemates - other dually-diagnosed adults. Last spring, however, Mabel's world changed suddenly when she received a diagnosis of breast cancer. Her quiet days were filled with doctors' appointments and medical treatments. The Residence Nurse coordinated the process of diagnosis, surgery, radiation treatment and chemotherapy. Facing cancer can be a terrifying challenge for anyone, even more so if you don't fully understand everything that is happening to you. For Mabel, medical and residential staff provided education, support and assistance as she bravely faced the hardships presented by her disease and treatment. After several months, Mabel was diagnosed as cancer-free and she was able to return to her needlepoint and visiting with her friends at the Day Hab program. Today, she is cancer free and counting the days till her five years of needing to take Tamoxifin are over.
MRDD Program - Individual Residential Alternative Health Services Program When John moved from a large institution for mentally retarded adults to his new McCloskey IRA (Individual Residential Alternative) in upper Westchester County in 1998, he was a healthy, energetic man who liked the cozy atmosphere of his new home. Despite having profound mental retardation as a result of Down's Syndrome and being non-verbal, he enjoyed listening to Irish music, sitting in his favorite chair, and going out to his day program. John's limitations became more severe two years ago after he developed Degenerative Dementia, which has been accompanied by a loss of more physical and cognitive functions, muscular weakness and atrophy, increased seizure activity and general organ failure. The Residence Nurse oversees and co-ordinates his complicated medical treatment. Doctors have told our residence counselors and Health Services staff a number of times over the last year that John did not have very long to live, and yet, he has rallied each time. As per his sister's wishes, John remains "at home" in the IRA in his own bed and favorite chair. There are many long nights when he can't sleep. Devoted staff members prop him up with pillows on the couch and keep him company talking through the night. Jaunty Irish music is usually playing in the background. The end is very near now because John has developed liver failure. John is 57 years old.
Girls Group Home Program Health Services Program Sarah was nearly 14 when she was admitted to the CMS Group Home Program. She was angry, hurt, confused, guilty, depressed - and alone. Sarah had no contact with her mother and had lived with her father until a few months earlier. Sarah was admitted to the group home because she was no longer able to live with her father since he had just been sent to jail for sexually abusing her. Prosecuting attorneys had determined that the abuse had been going on for some time. Despite recommendations, Sarah refused to go to a special therapy program for girls who had been sexually abused. She said that she would only go to therapy with the Cardinal McCloskey psychologist she had met when she first began the group home admission process. We accommodated her needs. Despite Sarah's vow not talk about her family or the abuse, slowly, she began to open up. With each passing month, Sarah became less angry and isolated from the other girls and staff. After a few weeks, she began going to school again. Slowly she began to accept the situation and stopped trying to have contact with her father. As Sarah started to overcome her depression, she was willing to meet with her mother. Together, they began family therapy sessions with the psychologist. As a result of a team effort, utilizing the therapeutic skills of the clinician, the nurturing of the residence staff and the hard work of the social worker, Sarah, now 16, is scheduled to leave the group home and begin a new life with her mother.
Foster Boarding Home Program Health Services Program Sammy came into our Foster Boarding Home Program when he was only a few months old. He was a little boy with a big problem. Born with the potentially fatal disease, Tetralogy of Fallot, Sammy's heat chambers had never closed. Only major surgery to repair the malformation could save him. Surgery for the six month old was scheduled but delayed as only the biological parents could give consent for such a risky procedure - and they could not be found. Our nurses, the Agency Pediatrician and Sammy's social worker searched diligently and finally located the parents, explained the situation, and enabled them to meet with the surgeon. They gave consent and Sammy had his surgery the next day. It was a success! Today, nearly a year later, Sammy still faces challenges from asthma and developmental delays, but he faces them with a healthy heart. His parents' consent gave Sammy the gift of life a second time and then they let him go. They will not be there to watch him thrive. Sammy has been freed for adoption.
Hayden House & School Health Services Program Tracey was an angry 12-year old with a relatively new diagnosis of Juvenile Diabetes when she arrived at Hayden House. Her diet was out of control and she was self-injecting insulin two to three times a day in a haphazard, potentially fatal manner. She was overweight and had poor hygiene habits. Tracey had been removed from her home because of medical neglect. Tracey's mother had died a year earlier from diabetic complications and Tracey lived with her aunt who had difficulty coping with the demanding medical needs of Tracey's illness. Initially, Tracey rejected staff's attempts at helping her. was struggling with depression and anger at losing her mother. Despite her resistance, staff worked to educate her about her illness, and re-train her for self-injection. They also helped Tracey understand that being angry was a natural part of grieving her mother's death. When Tracey left us several months later, she was a slimmer, well-groomed teen with her diabetes stabilized and more empowered for self-care.
Foster Boarding Home Program Luz & Maria were placed into our Foster Boarding Home Program in November 2001. Maria was 16 and Luz had just celebrated her 9th birthday. The girls came to Cardinal McCloskey after a school nurse had alerted NYC's Administration for Children's Services of her concerns regarding the many bruises and welts she had noticed on Maria's arms and legs during a routine exam. Maria had been in a fight with another girl in school and had fallen and twisted her ankle. School policy required she be brought to the school nurse for evaluation. Fights in school were not uncommon for Maria. She was a moody, angry teenager with a quick temper and little restraint. She was a poor student since she regularly missed several days of school each week. It often seemed that the only person Maria was kind to was her younger sister Luz. Maria and Luz lived in a small two-bedroom apartment with their mother and stepfather. Their mother had remarried 6 months after their father had died in a car accident. Luz was only 3 months old at the time. Investigation by child welfare workers revealed a life of torment and physical abuse for Maria. Their stepfather was very demanding. Rarely did the girls or their mother meet his expectations. He would find fault and require that a penalty be paid for their shortcomings. Maria would usually bear the punishment for her mother's flaws as well as her own. Maria's mother was often forced to watch Maria receive a bare-bottomed spanking with a leather strap as punishment for her own mistakes. After each incident, Maria's skin would be torn and bleeding and she would be unable to sit for days. Maria was only 8 years old when the beatings began. As she got older and was able to fight back, the beatings got worse. The day that child welfare officials came to investigate, Maria and Luz had not gone to school. Maria said Luz wasn't feeling well and was asleep. After a few moments it was apparent that Maria was in pain and unable to sit down. Further questioning revealed the previous night's torment. Maria's father had lost his job the day before and gone out drinking. Arriving home drunk, he slammed the door, which so startled Luz that she dropped the plate she was drying. The shattering glass sent their stepfather into a rage. He grabbed Luz and dragged her down the hall to get the leather strap. Since being a toddler Luz had often been forced to watch as Maria and her mother were abused, but she had never been hit before. Maria intervened and hit her stepfather with a lamp. He released Luz but caught Maria. Maria paid dearly for her actions. She received her punishment and was forced to watch as Luz was punished as well. Luz and Maria were taken into care immediately and placed together in a CMS foster boarding home. The girls participate in counseling with CMS therapists to address the anger and bitterness they feel toward their mother for not protecting them. Maria also participates in the CMS Independent Living Skills Program to help her gain the life skills she will need to live independently when she becomes an adult. At the same time, their case manager is working to help their mother receive the domestic violence counseling she needs to make the changes in her life necessary for her girls to be reunited with her.
Therapeutic Foster Boarding Home Program Adoption Program Gabriel was 8 when he came to Cardinal McCloskey. He had been in two other foster homes at other agencies before coming to CMS's Therapeutic Foster Boarding Home Program. Gabriel is the youngest of three children. Born prematurely, his mother was sure he would die in the hospital and had left him there with out too much concern since she had two other young children at home to worry about. She did call every week or so to check to see if he was still alive and was shocked when the hospital said she could come and get him two months later. The day that Gabriel's Mom came to get him, she had a black eye and a broken arm. At age 6, Gabriel was quite small for his age and was often bullied by his much bigger 10-year old brother. Their father and uncle who often bet on how quickly Gabriel would cry encouraged his brother's tormenting. One day his father and uncle were drinking heavily and told the boys to fight. The first boy to cry would lose. Gabriel's brother hit him and Gabriel started to cry. In a rage at Gabriel's tears, his father repeatedly punched Gabriel calling him names and telling him to toughen up. The next day, both of Gabriel's eyes were so swollen they wouldn't open. His lip was torn and his nose was still bleeding. His father demanded that the boys fight again. Gabriel lost again. Gabriel's father started to punch him again - telling him he was going to fight every day until he stopped being a "baby". When Gabriel's mother stepped in to stop him, Gabriel's Dad slapped her several times and pushed her to the floor. She went to the kitchen and got a knife. When Gabriel's Dad saw the knife, he grabbed, threw it aside and hit her several times more times. Gabriel picked up the knife and stabbed his father. Gabriel's brother called an ambulance and then punched Gabriel several times before locking him in the closet. Gabriel's mother and brother went to the hospital with Gabriel's father. When they came back from the hospital, Gabriel's father let him out of the closet, showed him where he had gotten stitches and then punched him over and over again. When Gabriel woke up he was in the hospital. Gabriel went from the hospital to a foster home, but he wasn't happy. He wanted to go home to his mother. After a few months, Gabriel started to fight with the other boy at the foster home. Everyday he would fight. He was moved to another foster home where he was fine for a short time, but then started fighting in his new school. After a while, he went to live with his maternal grandmother, but she said he was a bother and one day took him back home. When Gabriel got home, his brother was waiting. Gabriel was ready and fought hard. He won. But, that night while he slept, Gabriel's brother beat him with a stick. Gabriel went to the hospital again, but this time, Gabriel came to Cardinal McCloskey. Gabriel was placed in a therapeutic foster boarding home with a woman who had raised several boys of her own and provided foster care for several more boys during the past 5 years. She received special training on how to help Gabriel cope with his anger and relearn ways to express himself without fighting. With no one to fight with, Gabriel started to focus on other things. He participated in counseling and began to do well in school. The caseworker urged family counseling but Gabriel's family never came. After a while they signed the paperwork freeing Gabriel for adoption. Gabriel's foster mom adopted him a few years ago. Today, Gabriel is doing very well in school and no longer fights.
Foster Boarding Home Program Tiara is 7 years old. She came into our Foster Boarding Home Program a few months ago after her father died of AIDS. Her mother died of a drug overdose when she was 2 years old. Tiara carries a tattered picture of her mother in a small felt frame. It is her prized possession. During the past five years Tiara has stayed with her father as he has moved from place to place staying with other drug users in several crack houses and abandoned buildings throughout New York City. Tiara's speech is very poor and she has never attended school. Tiara will often sit in a corner quietly without moving and then lash out violently and unexpectedly at anyone nearby. CMS therapists fear that she may have been sexually assaulted and are working to help her control her anger. Tiara is now enrolled in a special school program and receives additional services to help develop her delayed speech. CMS's caseworkers have located her mother's sister in California and hope to arrange a visit shortly.
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