At just 10 years old, Sarah struggled with her weight, diabetes and depression. She was getting bad grades, and didn’t have the support she needed to make the lifestyle and behavioral changes necessary to lead a better life.

Sarah entered the system due to neglect from her family. Her mother is disabled posing challenges in Sarah’s care, so her social workers have utilized Sarah’s older sister to support and assist the mother and father in supervising Sarah’s medication. Her social workers were able to assist this family with resources from the STOP FUNDS and Auxiliary Fund program.

The Child and Family Team process was helpful to use the family’s strengths and family support to overcome the challenges. Family Preservation and Stop Fund programs are essential key to provide family with support and resources.

Now, Sarah has her diabetes under control. She’s lost weight and she is able to ride her bike in the park. Sarah’s social workers are proud of the progress she’s made, and most importantly, Sarah is proud of herself.